Government will today unveil a new plan to combat crime by providing judges with more sentencing options and alternatives to prison.

At a luncheon to be hosted by the Public Safety Ministry and Renaissance Reinsurance at the La Coquille Restaurant, top Government officials will announce the goals of the initiative, which will include input from interested members of the community.

In announcing the luncheon to invited guests, Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Paula Cox said the initiative will create a more comprehensive system of dealing with offenders.

Such a system will "meet the needs of the community'' and "break the cycle of recidivism''.

"We want to develop a system unique to Bermuda,'' Ms Cox added, "based on the best practices of other jurisdictions.'' The planning and design effort is sponsored by her Ministry and is funded by the exempted company Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd.

Premier Jennifer Smith will give opening remarks and Health Minister Nelson Bascome and Ms Cox will give speeches.

Government, during the Throne Speech last October, announced its intention to adopt a new approach to the Island's sentencing system.

Calling crime and illegal drug use "significant challenges'' to the Island, Ms Cox said there was a need for alternatives to "expensive and sometimes ineffective prison time''.

The existing private Woodshop and the upcoming drug court will play a role in the new sentencing system, which is promised to not be a "soft option''.

Opening: Jennifer Smith CONFERENCE CON