The 'What Works' strategy aims to reduce re-offending by making sure that the work done by the Probation Service is founded on the evidence of success.
Probation practice is being focused on effective interventions which:
The overall aim of the Probation Service is to reduce re-offending, protect the public and rehabilitate offenders. The 'What Works' strategy is pivotal to its success.
Cheshire Probation Area has implemented six proven and successful accredited programmes of treatment as follows:
Accredited Sex Offender Group Programme (N-SOGP)
This is an accredited programme for adult offenders
convicted of sexual offences against children or adults.
The Sex Offender programme aims to stop the offender committing further sex offences.
The programme consists of two stages and is delivered to groups of up to 10 offenders:
Addressing Substance Related Offending (ASRO)
This is an accredited, offence specific programme. Its aim is to break the link between alcohol and/or drug use and crime.
The ASRO programme is designed for those who are at significant risk of re-offending because of their alcohol or drugs use. Offenders will be helped:
Cognitive Skills Booster Programme
This programme offers an opportunity for offenders to practise and re-enforce what they have learned on other programmes eg. "Think First", "Reasoning & Rehabilitation" and "Enhanced Thinking Skills".
Each programme is submitted to the Correctional Services Accreditation Panel - an expert panel established to maintain and develop the effectiveness of work with offenders.
Community Domestic Violence Programme (CDVP)
Domestic Violence is an extremely destructive and dangerous form of violent behaviour. Its context within an intimate relationship may shield it from the public more than other types of violent crime, but it does not lessen the severity and impact on victims.
The Community Domestic Violence Programme is designed to reduce the risk of re-offending of adult male domestic violence offenders by:
The programme promotes and requires co-operation between the agencies concerned with domestic violence, and prioritises the safety of women and children. This includes:
Drink Impaired Drivers (DID) Programme
This is an accredited, offence specific programme. Its aim is to teach offenders new skills and techniques:
Think First Programme
This programme tackles the attitudes and behaviour of persistent offenders. Its aim is to teach offenders new skills and techniques, for example:
The programme leaflets listed below can be downloaded as a new page in Acrobat pdf file format.
The key to the successful reduction of re-offending is to match offenders to the most appropriate programme. A single system for the assessment of offenders (OASys) is being developed for use by Prison and Probation Services throughout England and Wales.
Assessment will be based on a thorough analysis of the factors affecting an offender's likelihood of re-offending and will produce firm proposals on the interventions most likely to reduce this risk.
The crucial way to ensure a long term change in offenders' behaviour is community re-integration. Research shows that a vital ingredient of effective intervention is to address problems such as homelessness, lack of basic skills, unemployment and substance misuse.
An extensive independent research programme has been commissioned to evaluate the Pathfinder programmes, examining their impact on offenders and reconviction rates.