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Work with persistent offenders is a priority
Although over half of people who are convicted of a crime do not, as far as we know, commit another crime, many do.
Levels of convictions suggest that people are more likely to offend again the more crimes they have committed before.
A large proportion of offences occur either in groups or by groups of people acting together.
Thames Valley Probation Area supervises approx 6,000 offenders each year. |
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The police make over 1.3 million arrests a year and most people plead guilty.
Of all people convicted of crime in Britain: |
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11% receive a community sentence |
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9% receive a discharge |
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71% receive a fine |
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8% are sentenced to custody |
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Why do people continue to commit crimes?
Research shows that the main causes are: |
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weak problem solving skills |
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poor decision making skills |
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weak personal control |
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poor social skills |
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Isn't prison the best place for persistent offenders?
When comparing like for like, there is no difference in the percentage of those receiving a prison sentence and a community sentence who get convicted again.
Please note - people convicted of serious crime such as murder, rape and robbery are nearly always sent to prison. |
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What about the cost?
On average a community sentence, such as probation supervision, costs about £2,500 a year. The orders which require more intensive input can cost more.
It costs about £35,000 a year to keep someone in prison.
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Probation work: Introduction
This section will outline the main areas of our work with offenders. It provides details for people who work with probation services, such as magistrates, court staff and voluntary agencies.
Court Reports
Written by probation staff for use in courts. The reports are about people charged with an offence. They help magistrates and judges make decisions on suitable punishments. More...
The Community Order
This is the name of the community-based sentence made by the courts when someone is found guilty of an offence. It consists of 12 Requirements. People can be sentenced to one Requirement or a combination of Requirements, depending on the seriousness of their offence. More...
Accredited programmes
Courses for people who keep committing offences. Evidence proves they can prevent people from offending again and work to change the way people think and act. More...
Tagging
A way of restricting liberty - rather like 'house arrest'. An electronic 'tag' is attached to the wrist or ankle. Can give people a new sense of structure and discipline in their life. More...
Prisons
Work with prisoners to prepare them for release back into the community. Providing reports to help Prison Governors make decisions about people's release. Supervision for prisoners on their release back into the community.
More...
Approved Premises
For people needing extra supervision by probation staff when serving their sentence while living in the community. Includes people on bail or on their release from prison. More...
Needs Providers
In the Thames Valley Probation Area we have specialist staff to help offenders with basic skills (numeracy and literacy), employment, training, education, housing and substance misuse.
Access to these services is proven to help offenders move towards crime-free lives.
More...
Victim Liaison Unit
The Probation Service has offered contact to victims of crime since the early 1990s, but in April 2001, a dedicated Victim Liaison Unit was set up following legislation, which set out new criteria for contacting victims and keeping them better informed.
More...
Other services
Thames Valley Probation Area is constantly involved in areas of work to reduce further offending and to ensure the public's safety. These include community safety partnerships, work aimed at mentally disordered offenders, Multi-Agency Public Protection Panels (MAPPPs), Reading Refocus and active involvement in the Thames Valley Partnership.
More...
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This website makes community punishment issues easy to understand: |
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Rethinking Crime & Punishment
Rethinking is campaigning to raise the level of public debate about the use of prison and alternative forms of punishment in the United Kingdom
www.rethinking.org.uk
- especially 'what are the facts' |
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Related pages:
Information for offenders is available at Been sentenced
Details of all our services are in About us |
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next page: Reports
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