Allocation to Offending Behavior Programs in the English and Welsh Probation Service

• NCJ Number: 228073
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 36 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2009 Pages: 909-922
• Author(s): Emma J. Palmer; James Mcguire; Ruth M. Hatcher; Juliet C. Hounsome; Charlotte A. L. Bilby; Clive R. Hollin
• Date Published: September 2009
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the appropriateness of offender allocation by risk level to three offending behavior programs under the Probation Service of England and Wales.

Abstract

The results of the study indicate that almost half of the offenders were inappropriately allocated to programs based on the Offender Group Reconviction Scale-2 (OGRS2) score criterion. The majority of inappropriate allocation was with high-risk offenders. Program completion was associated with appropriateness of allocation, with the lowest completion rates among the too high-risk group. The study illustrates overall the impact of inappropriate allocation on reconviction outcome. Within the English and Welsh Probation Service three offending behavior programs were adopted following legislation introduced to allow courts to add a requirement to attend an offending behavior program as part of an offender's probation order. One of the selection criteria for these programs stated that offenders should have a medium-high risk of reoffending rather than low or very high risk. This study examined the issue of variable organizational performance in levels of appropriate allocation and program completion. The data were from the general offending behavior programs delivered in 2002 in the England and Wales Probation Service. The study considered the impact of inappropriate allocation and program completion. Tables, figure, and references