Sexual Offences
Violence Against Women Initiative Perpetrator Programme
Sexual Assault Perpetrator Programme and Witness Support Service
SUMMARY
Development and implementation of a treatment programme to reduce re-offending among young male offenders 17-24 years old who are perpetrators of serious sexual assault and rape.
Development and implementation of a witness services programme for women victims of sexual assault to reduce attrition.
INTERVENTIONS
This programme will build on, and link into, the existing Child Witness Service and the Multi-Agency Sex Offender Project (MAP Initiative).
Development:
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Employ Database Consultant to look at existing systems to design and develop an appropriate database for the project and advice partners agencies on current data collation to ensure congruency of information. They will also advise on legislative issues in relation to the collection of data on victims and alleged perpetrators.
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A consultant will be employed to work with the MAP initiative on the development of the Offender Treatment Programmes for young sex offenders.
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Policy and practice and referral mechanisms of adolescent and young male alleged perpetrators and all victims of rape and serious sexual assault into the differing services building on current protocols and practice.
Implementation:
The two strands of the strategy will be integrated within existing successful inter-agency partnership i.e. MAP and the Child Witness Service.
Youth Offending:
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Young perpetrators will be referred from any agency, from the police, Youth Offending Teams in respect of relevant individuals who are notified to the police, and self-referrals.
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Referral criteria will be male under 24 years and above the age of criminal responsibility, males convicted of sexually aggressive offences towards females or convicted of behaviours which have a sexually aggressive component, males in relevant age groups where there are validated concerns about sexually aggressive behaviour towards females, and males without severe learning disability.
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Initial assessments will be completed with structured assessment tools for all referrals within time-scales prescribed by Youth Justice Board guidance where relevant or within two months of the referral being received. Initial assessments could identify a range of options: no further work required; further intervention by other agencies needed; further intervention regarding behaviour of concern and specific to sexually aggressive behaviour, lifestyle and personality factors and risk factors underlying core beliefs and attitudes regarding abusive behaviour.
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Targeted programmes will allow work to be undertaken with young perpetrators. Criteria for inclusion include willingness to attend (either by voluntary agreement or by agreement as identified in youth Justice guidance regarding warning and reprimand procedures or by agreement with multi-agency Risk Management Panel) or mandated by court to attend; individuals whose behaviour is potentially management and containable; supported by professionals and/or significant others who can provide monitoring and structured feedback regarding behaviour.
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Intervention programmes will involve teams of workers from other agencies, there will be elements of group and individual work, interventions will be age and development sensitive.
Witness Support
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The service will be located within the unit dealing with the child victims of serious sexual assault and rape.
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Referrals to the services will be made at the point at which a defendant is charged with an offence. Referrals for all victims will be aimed to be contacted within 7 days of referral.
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Support for adult victims of rape and serious sexual assault will be provided by trained volunteers from the statutory and voluntary sector. They will be provided for all cases where victims are likely to give evidence
AGENCIES INVOLVED
Humberside Probation Service, Area Child Protection Committee, MAP Initiative, Hull Community Safety Partnership, East Riding of Yorkshire Community Safety Partnership, Humberside Police, CPS, Victim Support.
Last update: June 2003