Issues of Offender Management in the UK - Case Study Example

Offender management in the UK Offender management in the UK Introduction Drug use is prevalent among the young adults in our 21st century generation. Peer pressure and lack of family support among other factors have been attributable to some of the youth tendencies to engage in drug abuse. In addition, there exists strong correlation between drug use and crime rates as the drug users are always in search of cash to sustain these lifestyle. Drug addiction therefore makes this situation no better as a number of them are found in the wrong side of the law. Many of these offenders have been charged with theft, assault, bank robbery, hijacking and other major and minor offenses. The risk management policy in the United Kingdom has therefore come in handy to assess the behavior of these offenders and find ways to retransform these offenders into sound productive citizens through critical behavior analysis and rehabilitation programs. Many of the offenders taking this positively have embraced new ways of living and are on the journey back to the life every citizen deserves. Risk Management The national Offender Management Service (NOMS) in the United Kingdom has been in the forefront in the implementation of the Offender Assessment System (OASys). (Craig et al, 2008) argue that risk management seeks to analyze the chances that the offender will re-offend in the future as well as the potential targets of harm, for instance the underage kids. It also addressed the relationship of the offender to the family and effects of offender’s disclosure unto the family and on the wider scale to the law. The OASys therefore identifies the offenders within the community setting and analyses the risk aspect. The system has been successfully adopted by the law enforcers including the probation officers (Risk Matrix and the police). The system is vital, for instance, have the thought of an offender on completion of the prison terms is released and accidentally meets the victim in the streets. According to (Towl et al, 2013), basically, the purpose of the OASys is to assess the likelihood that the offender might be reconvicted and seek to assess the offender needs and potential harm in waiting, if any. Studies point to accommodation, drug use and past criminal record as the likely factors behind the cases of offender reconviction. It is therefore the comprehensive study to analyze the behavior of the offender and its pretesting so as to have confidence that the offender in his state and in completion of his term will be a responsible member of public. The prominent tool put in place by the Offender System Management of the recidivism and risk is the actuarial and clinical approach. The Risk Matrix 2000 comprise of (RM2000/S) as a scale in prediction of sexual reoffending and (RM2000/V) for nonsexual. The risks categories are outlined as low, medium and high. Assessment also reveals increase in rates of conviction correlating to increase in risks. It is also vital to point out the incorporation of the reconviction predictor in the probation service which has transformed the customary rehabilitation services to understanding the unique needs of offenders and mould offenders to satisfactory levels through more accommodative ‘insurance’ or actuarial techniques. Data mining and research inclined to offending-related factors serve as a key ingredient to the OASys. These factors are essential in locating the different risk matrix for instance the risk implication of Bob as an offender to rejoining him with his mother who feels unsecure to have him around in the light of impending assault tensions. The needs and behavior assessment of Bob as a drug user need to be explicitly highlighted in the effort to transform him be a responsible man, punctual employee and find new peers who are not allied to perennial drug use. Important to note is that Bob has no criminal record before the period of drug use and programs to help individuals like Bob battle fight the drug addiction will be vital resource in enabling him live a crime-free life (Gorman et al, 2006) Offender Data Analysis and Relevant Skills Analysis o f the offender calls for cognitive and enhanced thinking skills. Information derived should assess the attitude s of the offender (Bob) towards the offense and suggest measures to drift him away from drug use and criminal activities. Shaping attitude of Bob to drop the drug related activities and instill him responsibility to care for his family and achieve less violent notions is the purpose of the risk management. These efforts should be less accuse of these behaviors but motivate Bob to realize that it is not late to turn about in his life for the better. Personal factors to nurture here include the emotional wellbeing, that is, aiding him to control anxiety, and feelings of anger. The skills ought to impact positively and transform Bob’s thinking and make him reflect on the consequences of assault to his own family members. Avoidance of these pro-criminal attitudes will minimize chances of rick and future reconviction. Sentence planning is also inclusive to shape his beliefs and attain positive attitudes to the existing correction programs and mould him into a better person. Data collection from previous literature and other agencies play a role in this correction process. As an assessor, it is critical to analyze the basic education skills of the offender, usage of alcohol and mental and physical health (Cantom and Hancock, 2013). The assessor also should not overlook the sadistic and instrumental motivators that could increase likelihood for re-offending. Information from the interview of the offender is key in planning of risk assessment process. Traces of dishonestly and resentfulness to provide information is a setback in attempts to assess the offender and bring him in the right path. In case where crucial risk could occur, external risk management should be sought, such as behavior control, surveillance and monitoring. For instance, under a monitored environment, Bob can be able to be introduced to his mother and possibility of a mother-son talk prevails. Such programs, though not implemented at once, could try to ease the looming tension. The knowledge base as opposed to procedural techniques, forms a favorable ground to enable Bob realize the benefit of living in “real” life. In implementing of the risk management programs, the criminal justice agencies simultaneously attempt to promote public protection, encourage resource allocation and more importantly in their alignment to follow risk. This implies that more resources will be inclined to areas that pose more risk. Collecting of information suitably serve the defensive decision making. As a practitioner, in order to help Bob cope up with new life free of drugs and violence, relevant information collection becomes a necessity and should go along with more purposeful understanding of offender behavior. In the light of the organizational policy attitude change is the key factor in mitigation of reoffending chances in Bob’s case study (Farrow et al, 2007) As Robinson, (2007) illustrates, effective risk management means calculation of risk and it incorporates the frequency of occurrence and who will carry out the harm and to which extent as well as the impact. This explains the need for Bob to carry on the risk averse attitude. It is not about waiting for the risk to occur but strategies that are proactive in nature. OASys does not highlight the harm to other members of the community but harm to the offender himself. In the light of the present case study, if Bob gets involved in consequent assault activities or drug use then he is assured that his problems with the law are not ending soon. So, these programs are meant to nurture individuals to community based approaches as opposed to offense attitudes in accordance to PC 10/2005. Risk assessment programs do not serve to attain situations where there is absence of disaster but in transforming lives of individuals through constructive prior planning, surveillance and monitoring, police intelligence and supervised accommodation. Objectives to ensure offenders like Bob get desired community oriented attitudes and ensure effective risk assessment success should follow the SMART criteria; that is smart, measurable, achievable, realistic and targeted. Corrective measures should work hand in hand with quality assurance strategies to instill confidence that release of such offenders, as Bob, do not disturb the public safety. Probation staff involvement should be intense to realize this goal as well as other resource tools from organizations and criminal justice agencies (Beech et al, 2009). Conclusion Risk management is a vital tool that is aimed to change the lives of the offenders for the common good. It is a proactive technique that seeks to calculate the probability that an offender will carry out an offense in a later period, the extent and impact. It therefore seeks to change the attitudes of the offenders, establish knowledge base and perceptions in effort to transform the offender away from the life of crime and violence. In cases where drug and substance abuse is a key issue, plans are in place to enable the offender fight addiction, conquer peer influence and engage other productive activities in society but closely monitored not to slip back into life of drugs (and crime). References Anthony R. Beech, L. A. (2009). Assessment and Treatment of Sex Offenders: A Handbook. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. Graham Towl, D. P. (2013). Dictionary of Forensic Psychology. Oxon: Routledge. Kathryn Farrow, G. K. (2007). Offenders in Focus: Risk, Responsivity and Diversity. Bristol: Policy Press. Kevin Gorman, M. G. (2006). Constructive Work with Offenders. Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Leam A. Craig, K. D. (2008). Assessing Risk in Sex Offenders: A Practitioners Guide. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. Rob Canton, D. H. (2013). Dictionary of Probation Offender Management. London: Routledge. Robinson, A. (2007). Foundations for Offender Management: Theory, Law and Policy for Contemporary Practice. Bristol: Policy Press. Read More