Home Office Good Practice Seminars
Robbery and Street Crime Seminar
Workshop 2: Resettlement and rehabilitation of offenders
Points of discussion
Resettlement requires a holistic approach, an individualised package of initiatives and support that relies on the co-operation of many agencies and services, such as the Prison service, Probation service, Health service and drug treatment agencies, education, housing, benefits advice, job training and employment.
To tackle offending behaviour individual behavioural changes are needed, old habits should be reviewed and new skills and personal strengths developed. Often individual change challenges both lifestyle and social structures - not only self- worth/confidence but also friendships, partnerships, family and social standing. Success may depend on change and adaptation within, and by all, these parties and structures.
The process must respond to individual complexity including special needs groups such as mental health, learning difficulty, juveniles and race and gender. Individuals must also be considered in a social context – parental responsibilities, or dependants and how their needs impact on agreed goals and outcomes.
Government strategy targets problematic users via CJIP (Criminal Justice Intervention Programme). Access to treatment and aftercare support:
Needs to be a seamless transition from custody to community support services
Needs to ensure rapid access to effective treatment
Should ensure that intensive periods of intervention are supported with aftercare that could potentially be long-term in nature
Last update: 1/12/04