About Changing The Way They Thought

19 July 2012 Last updated at 10:13

Offender behaviour not tackled before release - report

"Prisoner behind bars Many prisons do not have the capacity to run courses aimed at reducing re-offending rates

Serious criminals are leaving prison not having been on programmes designed to stop reoffending, says a report.

Prisons and probation inspectors for England and Wales found no plans to deliver treatment programmes to a third of sex offenders needing them.

Most of the 11 prisons examined lacked capacity to meet demand for courses.

But they said a significant culture shift among staff was also needed, pointing out that a new computer system, designed to improve the management of prisoners, was not being used properly.

Mr Hardwick said: "On the face of it, it is just really disturbing. What's happening on the ground now in terms of offender management is too poor in too many places and needs to be galvanised."

He said: "Sex offenders are being released without adequate interventions to reduce the risk that they will re-offend."

Steve Woodgate, the lead inspector, said: "One in four people in prison in this sample not having been assessed is a bit scary."

He said they were "not being followed up, not being reviewed, nobody's really on the case".

She said: "Some prisoners, and most worryingly, some sexual offenders, are not always able to access the treatment they need to change their behaviour before their release."

NOMS chief executive officer Michael Spurr said there had been a 5% reduction in reoffending since 2000.

"This reflects much better case management both in prison and the community," he said.

"We are targeting resources to reduce risk to the public. Over 1,000 sex offenders completed programmes in custody last year and we will continue to prioritise work on the basis of risk."

He said that transforming the management of offenders was a "significant challenge".

"We have made real progress but accept there is more to be done to break the cycle of reoffending."

Ms Calderbank said if offender management and rehabilitation were not given the same priority as punishment and containment "we will continue to lock up large numbers of people at increasing cost but to very little effect".

"We were looking for work that was done with prisoners during the course of their sentence which was actually about changing the way they thought," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18897212

Sex offenders released with proper treatment to stop reoffending

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/9409349/Sex-offenders-released-with-proper-treatment-to-stop-reoffending.html

'Disturbing' Lack of Rehab For Sex Offenders

http://www.lbc.co.uk/disturbing-lack-of-rehab-for-sex-offenders-57432

Some Sex Offenders Finish Sentences With No Rehabilitation Treatment, Report Finds

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/07/18/sex-offenders-not-receiving-rehabilitation-treatment_n_1682760.html?utm_hp_ref=uk

'Disturbing' Lack of Rehab For Sex Offenders

http://news.sky.com/story/962134/disturbing-lack-of-rehab-for-sex-offenders

Report: Sex offenders are being released without treatment

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2012-07-19/report-sex-offenders-are-being-released-without-treatment/

Prison report 'disturbing read'

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/prison-report-disturbing-read-16186782.html

High-risk sex offenders 'being freed from prison without treatment'

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/highrisk-sex-offenders-being-freed-from-prison-without-treatment-7956998.html