NCJ Number
158775
Date Published
1993
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The Newcastle Intensive Probation Program in England began in 1990 and has developed a centralized group counseling program that operates across the team boundaries of the six probation field teams of the Newcastle Division of the Northumbria Probation Service.
Abstract
The program has three objectives: reducing recidivism; improving the offender's attitude, skills, and way of life; and reducing the proportion of young adult offenders receiving custodial sentences for less serious offenses. The four core elements of the program are a personal action plan for each offender, frequent contact between staff and the offenders, work focusing on offending behavior, and attendance enforced through the attachment of an additional condition to a probation order. The program is modular. It offers a series of short but intensive courses lasting 3-4 days and involving small groups of offenders in highly focused work relating to their offending. Three examples of courses are the courses called Staying out of Bother, Keeping Your Head, and Drug Problems. Each course is fully evaluated in writing. During the past year 102 offenders have taken part, many in more than one module. Almost 75 percent have been in the target age group of 17-25 years; more than 65 percent have been convicted at least three times. Recidivism data are not yet available. Figure, tables, and 2 notes