Reducing Re-offending Through Skills ... - Google Books

Reducing Re-offending Through Skills ... - Google Books

Yet more evidence to show that punishment by itself fails to reduce re-offending. Rather there is a need to invest time and resources into providing offenders with the skills and personal confidence that most of us take for granted, enabling them to change their thoughts, feelings, behaviour and belief in themselves. The process of course requires a fundamental shift in approach and philosophy to the task. Will the Ken Clarke be supported in his efforts to make the changes possible?

Bromely Briefings - Fact File June 2011 web.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Fact File June 2011 web.pdf (application/pdf Object)

All you need to know regarding prison numbers and other facts related to prisons in England and Wales.

The 'Veterans Change Partnership' - addressing the needs of Veteran Offenders

Readers of this blog will have noted our efforts to raise awareness regarding military veteran offenders. Regrettably, the number of veterans who are becoming involved in the Criminal Justice System is continuing to rise. Others are sleeping rough and becoming dependant on drugs and alcohol. There are many reasons for this, not least family breakdown and an inability to settle back into civilian life following repeated combat experience and associated trauma.

The 'Veterans Change Partnership' is being developed to offer specialised programmes of rehabilitation, training, support and preventative work for veteran offenders. With each partner providing a blend of specialist knowledge, skills and provision, the programme will enable a reduction in recidivism with access to employment. Considerable work has been undertaken and more information can be seen at http://www.lifechangeuk.com/supporting-the-military-covenant/

As part of the project, the partnership is now seeking financial support through a Social Impact Bond and is keen to hear from anybody who might wish to be involved. More information is available from Trevor Philpott - trevor.philpott@lifechangeuk.com

YouTube - ‪HOMELESS VETERANS ON THE STREETS OF AMERICA‬‏

YouTube - ‪HOMELESS VETERANS ON THE STREETS OF AMERICA


This news item describes the veteran homeless situation in the USA. Here in the UK we are facing similar shame - 12% of London's homeless are veterans, many are committing crime in order to survive. If we are to reduce the levels of offending and re-offending and look after the families of our veterans, more effort must be made to implement and uphold the values enshrined within the Military Covenant. ‬‏

Homeless vets: Does anyone care? - 60 Minutes Overtime - CBS News

Homeless vets: Does anyone care? - 60 Minutes Overtime - CBS News

This link to a CBS News programme highlights the increasing levels of depression and mental illness amongst US veterans and how one state is helping its homeless veterans to get their lives in order, all of which is serving to reduce re-offending and enable positive personal change.

Here in the UK, it is estimated that 12% of the homeless in London are military veterans. Is our military covenant really making a difference to those veterans who have fallen upon bad times and who face difficulties with depression? How many more of our veterans will we place in prison?

Prison Reform Trust Bromley Fact File June 2011 web.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Fact File June 2011 web.pdf (application/pdf Object)

This link takes you to the Prison Reform Trust Bromley Briefings Prison Fact File. All you need to be up to date with the facts on prisons in England and Wales.

San Diego County - Military Veterans Court System

The US State Court system is increasingly recognising the growing number of military veterans who, following combat trauma, are entering the justice system. Aganist this background new proceedures are being introduced to support and divert veteran offenders. Courts are now focussing upon rehabilitating veterans through positive case management instead of jailing them.

Recognising the UK's Military Covenant, I am left wondering how long it will be before similar initiatives are introduced in the UK?

The following report by Rick Rogers - For the North County Times North County Times | Posted: Friday, January 21, 2011 12:00 am outlines the situation in San Diago.

Report -

With a stroke of his pen Wednesday, Superior Court presiding Judge Kevin Enright approved what's technically known as the Veterans Treatment Review Calendar, a pilot program born of years of planning and consensus building.

The first cases are set for Feb. 4 in San Diego before Judge Roger W. Krauel, a Vietnam veteran who spent 35 years in uniform. A San Diego judge since 199l, Krauel will spend one day a week concentrating on veterans' cases from across the county.

"It is another positive step to addressing a real problem in our community," Krauel said of the voluntary program that primarily targets Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma or substance abuse issues who run afoul of the law.

"This pilot will help us start sorting out the best ways to serve the public safety while bringing veterans who have offended back into the law-abiding community," said Krauel.

The county and its estimated 235,000 veterans will now join Santa Ana, Tulsa, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and dozens of places nationwide running courts focused on rehabilitating veterans through aggressive case management instead of jailing them.

The largest numbers of Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans anywhere in the country live in San Diego County, an estimated 30,000.

In recent years, increasing numbers of them have landed in county jails for what's been described as "impulse crimes" such as drunk driving, spouse and child abuse, barroom brawls and resisting arrest.

So many, in fact, that San Diego County now has upwards of 150 young veterans enmeshed in the criminal justice system and another 400 of all ages either in jail or facing charges.

San Diego attorney Jude Litzenberger has co-chaired the legal task force to establish the veteran diversion program since 2007. She said the calendar is good news for veterans and the public alike.

"Right now, the judges are seeing veterans in a number of San Diego County courtrooms," she said. "This is a good opportunity to consolidate those cases in order to do the kind of monitoring and mentoring that's been shown to both remove veterans from criminality while ensuring a safer community.

"If you send someone to DUI school when they need to go to PTSD counseling, you are doing a disservice to both the veteran and the public."

Litzenberger said the pending veterans treatment program won't be easy, but if successfully completed, it could wipe the slate clean for troubled veterans.

Take driving under the influence of alcohol, for example. Someone arrested on a first-time DUI can expect to pay $2,000 in fines, draw five years of unsupervised probation, attend 32 hours of alcohol education and agree to take a Breathalyzer test at any time.

Someone admitted into Veterans Treatment Review Calendar must comply with all of the above, plus undergo exposure therapy for PTSD, agree to drug and alcohol testing and have regular contact with a probation officer.

Buffalo Judge Robert Russell started the first veterans' court in January 2008. A hybrid of existing specialty courts ---- such as domestic violence court, mental health court and drug court ---- veterans' court has been a striking success.

Of 120 veterans enrolled in Russell's program, 90 percent successfully completed the program ---- and the recidivism rate is zero.

Below are key provisions of the Veterans Treatment Review Calendar:

-- A defendant will be assigned to the VTRC based on the recommendations of the prosecutor and defense lawyer, and supporting information from the probation department and agencies providing assessment and treatment.

-- All of the programs of the San Diego Court are open to defendants who are on active duty, including the VTRC. In certain circumstances, military procedures allow for military sanctions to be imposed in addition to whatever a civilian court does. Where there is military jurisdiction over a crime, it is up to the prosecutor whether a case is also filed in state court.

-- The VTRC will have the power to review cases already adjudicated. To do this, attorneys would make a joint recommendation to the criminal court judge conducting the probation hearing and sentencing of the defendant; or to the judge reviewing, post-sentence, the performance of probation.

Defense attorneys interested in the new program should contact Litzenberger at judelitz@aol.com. Put "VTRC Inquiry" in the subject line for a faster response.

Latest news on the criminal justice system, sentencing policy, prisons and life after jail | Society | guardian.co.uk

Latest news on the criminal justice system, sentencing policy, prisons and life after jail | Society | guardian.co.uk

It is to be hoped that the Government's Revolution in Prison Reform and Sentencing will indeed be delivered.

YouTube - Martin Bell OBE

YouTube - Martin Bell OBE

In this moving You Tube flim, Martin Bell OBE highlights the damaging impact of Combat Related PTSD, including how, for many, it often leads to enprisonment. The human and fincancial costs are disturbing. If we are serious as a nation about supporting the Military Covenant, we must surely take more action to address veteran mental health issues.

Briefing – Breaking the cycle – Government response | Christine Graham Consultancy

Briefing – Breaking the cycle – Government response | Christine Graham Consultancy
For those leading busy lives, this briefing provides a clear outline of the Government's 'Breaking the Cycle' report and is commended for its succinct and clear presentation.

Welcome - Armed Forces Health Partnership

Welcome - Armed Forces Health Partnership
This important work by the NHS and partners is clearly to be welcomed. It is to be hoped that similar support will also be offered to those Veterans who, often as a result of mental health issues following combat experience, end up entering the Justice System.

New three sector consortium to help deliver criminal justice services - Press releases - Media centre - Nacro, the crime reduction charity

New three sector consortium to help deliver criminal justice services - Press releases - Media centre - Nacro, the crime reduction charity

At last, the momentum for meaningful cross sector partnerships appears to be growing with an acknowledgement that different organisations can and do bring different skills to help reduce re-offending and that by working together the outcomes can be more effective.

New Zealand study: Reoffending Analysis for Restorative Justice Cases: 2008 and 2009 — RJ Online

New Zealand study: Re-offending Analysis for Restorative Justice Cases: 2008 and 2009 — RJ Online

Further evidence that RJ can have a positive impact upon the reduction of re-offending and the type and level of offending.

Wester Australia reducing Re-offendingpdf Object)

future-directions-draft.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Western Australia is leading with new interventions to reduce re-offending.

Cheshire Police's restorative justice drives down reoffending rates (From Northwich Guardian)

Cheshire Police's restorative justice drives down re-offending rates (From Northwich Guardian)

Well done Cheshire Police; more evidence to show that RJ is a powerful and appropriate way of reducing re-offending. Yet, there is still a reluctance by many to engage in the process. Is it that the Justice System and Society are afraid to admit that punitive measures are not effective and that there are better ways? The reality is clear, until we pursue a process that serves to change the thoughts and feelings of offenders, their behaviour will remain unchanged. Punishment re-enforces existing negative thoughts and feelings whilst RJ serves to help promote positive change.

YouTube - Support our Troops, Support DecAid

YouTube - Support our Troops, Support DecAid

Remembering what our troops and their families endure on our behalf!

Yet many are leaving the military with various levels of Mental Health problems, only to experience family breakup, homelessness, alcohol and drug issues and ending up in prison or on probation. These were once proud men, willing to give their lives for their country; is this how we are to repay them?

To reduce re-offending by military veterans, they deserve a purpose designed programme of support and rehabilitation. We rightly deliver such programmes for those with physical injuries, now we must deliver for those with mental injuries and loss.

The Veterans Change Partnership is aiming to provide such support. More information can be seen at - http://www.lifechangeuk.com/supporting-the-military-covenant/

If you also support this view, please tell others.

‘It’s a national scandal’ - Inside Time Newspaper

‘It’s a national scandal’ - Inside Time Newspaper

Re-offending rates have remained the same for years, costing the tax payer billions of pounds every year. If an offender's thoughts and feelings remain unchanged, so will his or her behaviour. It is the same for us all. To achieve change we need an environment that helps to promote it; a Prison regime is simply not conducive.

After Combat, the Unexpected Perils of Coming Home - NYTimes.com

After Combat, the Unexpected Perils of Coming Home - NYTimes.com

This article provides examples of how combat has impacted upon US troops and their families. Sadly, many UK troops face similar issues, all of which can be devastating, often leading to increasing mental health problems, family breakdown, homelessness, alcohol misuse and crime. Under the Military Covenant they deserve support as they try to overcome their various personal challenges.

Why Vets Are Likely Entrepreneurs | LinkedIn

Why Vets Are Likely Entrepreneurs | LinkedIn

Rehabilitating Veteran offenders can provide them with the opportunities to use their skills in the private sector; surely better than keeping them in prison.

Take a look at - http://www.lifechangeuk.com/supporting-the-military-covenant/ and support the cause.

YouTube - MoD figures show rise in forces mental health cases 23.05.11

YouTube - MoD figures show rise in forces mental health cases 23.05.11

Yet more evidence showing that mental health issues with Veterans are rising!