The team
The Reducing Reoffending Team consists of:
- safer custody
- physical education
- vocational training
- catering
- substance misuse
- offending behaviour programmes
- education
We continue to build each pathway collaborating across Government, engaging with local businesses and voluntary organisations. All our community partners offer skills and opportunities to prisoners while in prison and after release to give a second chance, a fresh start and make positive contributions to the community.
The 7 pathways
The 7 pathways for reducing reoffending that we embed are well researched and proven in reducing re-offending after release from prison.
Accommodation
Prison leavers without stable accommodation are more likely to break the law again. Providing them with safe, stable accommodation reduces the likelihood that they will reoffend, but also makes it easier for the Probation and Aftercare Team to work with them on a regular basis.
Employment and education and training
Employment plays a key role in cutting crime, providing people with the opportunity to gain independence and contribute to wider society. Prison leavers who secure employment is less likely to reoffend.
Health
Securing effective access to primary care and other health services for offenders in custody and following release in the community. Highly trained gym staff support prisoners in leading healthier lifestyles whilst in custody to continue with upon release.
Finance, benefits and debt
Tackling the financial problems faced by many offenders, from when they enter prison to settle any existing payments, through to when they leave and become an islander back in the community.
Drugs and alcohol
Encouraging and supporting prisoners to engage with treatment both inside prison and maintenance of that support following their release.
Children and family
Maintaining strong relationships with families and children can play a big role in helping prisoners to make and sustain changes that help them to avoid reoffending.
Attitudes, thinking and behaviour
Prisoners are more likely to have negative social attitudes and poor self-control. Successfully addressing their attitudes, thinking and behaviour during custody may reduce reoffending.
Peer support services
We follow the pathways to develop a rehabilitative culture throughout the prison so that opportunities for all prisoners to change their behaviour and reduce future offending are encouraged from the first day in custody.
This allows opportunities for prisoners to:
- take responsibility for their own rehabilitation
- engage with the prison staff
- enables links with the community
- improve their wellbeing
- live a life free of crime while making a positive impact on the island
Prisoners who are new to the system often find it distressing and traumatic can refer to peer support schemes, which can help to create a safe environment where they can discuss any problems and anxieties they may have.
Samaritans
Volunteers from the Samaritans visit the prison twice a week. Prisoners can make an appointment with prison staff to see a volunteer.
Prisoners can also call the Samaritans at any time of the day. All conversations with the Samaritans are confidential.
Listener schemes
'Listeners' are prisoners who are trained to give confidential emotional support to other prisoners.
The listener scheme can only run when we have trained listeners, but we may have other 'buddy' and 'carers' programmes in place.
Insiders
The Insiders scheme involves trained prisoners and volunteers who give basic information and reassurance to new prisoners when they arrive in prison.
The first 24 hours in custody can be distressing and this scheme helps reduce new prisoners' anxiety.
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