APPENDIX 50
Memorandum submitted by the Probation
Service
HOW MUCH
DOES IT
COST TO
MEET DEMANDS
FOR PERPETRATOR
PROGRAMMES NATIONWIDE
There have been a number of calculations
used to provide unit costs of providing the perpetrator programmes
which run within Probation areas; the most recent and accurate
costing was completed for the 2007-08 budget. Areas were asked
to submit their projected costs for all Interventions. A number
of areas did not provide a separate figure for DV Interventions.
Given this restriction of the 8 Areas which deliver the Community
Domestic Violence Programme (CDVP), 6 have reported and the average
cost per completion is £7,262. Of the remaining Areas which
deliver the Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme (IDAP), 23 reported
and the average cost per completion is £7,250.
Information regarding waiting time for
offenders to commence the group work element of their supervision
for programmes has rightly caused concern. Our main source of
information is a national database known as The Interim accredited
programme (IAPS) database. This database can indicate time spent
prior to the group work programme starting, however it does not
distinguish between the reasons for any delays to the commencement
of the group work element. To provide an accurate measure of waiting
times we have to cross reference the database entries with each
area. In view of the concerns raised regarding waiting times we
have commissioned a research study to clarify this issue.
MORE INFORMATION
ON THE
SOUTH-WEST
PILOT
The South West Regional Offender Manager
recently commissioned a strategic review of domestic violence
policy and services citing a number of obstacles and ways forward
to increase resources within the South West. This document, and
discussions arising out of it, led to the proposal to conduct
a mapping exercise of commissioning, services, and funding effecting
convicted and non convicted perpetrators and their victims and
to work towards a more coordinated and collaborative community
response. The project is still in the preliminary planning stage
and is seeking funding from The Home Office through the involvement
of John Dunworth the Home Office Interpersonal Violence Strategy
Lead, Government Office South West and NOMS it will have a number
of aims:
— To rationalise these services
where there is duplication of resource or share learning, eg as
in treating convicted and non convicted perpetrators together,
the potential that perpetrator programmes could be more firmly
linked with victim services;
— To create efficiencies where
there are overlaps; and
— To identify gaps in resource,
ie for minority groups.
This is a project of obvious national
significance and would act as a pilot in creating a more holistic
response to domestic violence from all agencies including NOMS.
The project will have the involvement of the policy and interventions
units at NOMS and although timescales are still to be set we should
be in a position to report progress back in 6 months time once
the funding has been agreed and the project plan finalised.
DATA USED
IN MEASURING
EFFECTIVENESS OF
PROGRAMMES
Spousal Assault Risk Assessment (SARA):
The SARA is a clinical checklist of risk factors for spousal assault.
It comprises 20 individual items identified by an extensive review
of the empirical literature. The 20 items are grouped into five
categories: criminal history; psychosocial adjustment; spousal
assault history; the current offence; and other considerations.
The assessor considers whether the items are absent (0), sub threshold
(1) or present (2); decide whether any items are critical, that
is that they are sufficient on their own to conclude that the
individual poses an imminent risk of harm; and then decide whether
the overall risk of harm to their partner and others is low, medium
or high. The SARA is completed at the pre programme stage. There
is both an offender and victim version.
Offender Information (name, DOB, gender,
ethnicity, disability, special needs, offence and sentence details,
OGRS score, OASys score, PNC number).
Programme details. Offender referral,
enrolment, suspension, completion of pre programme sessions, attendance
on sessions, catch up sessions, completion of programme, completion
of post programme sessions, all phases completed. Additionally,
offender level of understanding of programme sessions and level
of engagement of programme sessions. If offender did not complete
programme, the reasons for non completion.
Tutor/Facilitator sessions reviews and
Treatment manager/supervisor session reviews
Offender evaluation measures: psychometrics,
interviews and checklists: Offenders complete a number of psychometrics,
interviews and checklists pre programme, post programme and six
months post programme completion in order to assess whether any
improvements in their attitudes and behaviour have occurred. The
psychometrics consist of:
— Revised attitudes to offence
scale (RATOS)
— Inventory of beliefs about
wife beating (IBWB)
— Abusive relationships inventory
(ARI)
— Interpersonal relationship
scale (IRS)
— Relationship style questionnaire
(RSQ)
— Paulhus Deception Scale (PDS)
(Optional for CDVP)
The checklists consist of:
— Dobash Violence Assessment
Index (VAI) (Offender version)
— Dobash Controlling Behaviours
Index (CBI) (Offender version)
— Dobash Injury Assessment Index
(IAI) (Offender version)
The interview consists of:
— The Quality of Life Interview
(Offender version)
Victim evaluation measures: Interviews
and checklists: There are victim versions of the offender checklists
and interview. The victim measures are completed with the victim
by the woman safety worker pre programme, post programme and 6
months post programme completion. This enables comparisons to
be made between offender reports and victim reports to assess
under-reporting etc. The checklists consist of:
— Dobash Violence Assessment
Index (VAI) (Victim version)
— Dobash Controlling Behaviours
Index (CBI) (Victim version)
— Dobash Injury Assessment Index
(IAI) (Victim version)
The interview consists of:
— The Quality of Life Interview
(Victim version)
Police call out. Police call out data
is collected pre programme, throughout the course of the programme
and post programme completion
Post programme review summary (3 way
meeting) & post programme report
Staff impact survey and stakeholder survey
(This is optional)
Staff feedback on the programme
Offender feedback on the programme
Reconviction data: one year and two year
reconviction data for all offenders (whether they have completed
or not) post programme completion
WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN AN
ORDER FINISHES/WHAT
TRACKING OF
PERPETRATORS TAKES
PLACE AND
HOW TRACKING
DATA IS
USED TO
EVALUATE EFFECTIVENESS?
As noted in the section above 1 and 2
year reconviction data is collated on offenders for outcome studies.
Statistical information is also available for the outcome of breach
proceedings for offenders too. Two research studies, led by RDS-NOMS,
are currently being set up which will track offenders in the community
and another study that will track offenders in custody. It will
include data on what happens to offenders that participate in
programmes.
A review of the literature and data from
the Offender Assessment System (OASys) of the needs of all perpetrators
of domestic violence is currently being undertaken by NOMS Attitudes
Thinking and Behaviour Team. This is due for completion in April
2008. The review will consider implications of the findings of
the literature and OASys data to indicate which intervention strategies
are likely
ANY PLANS
TO DEVELOP
PERPETRATOR PROGRAMMES
FOR UNDER-21S
OR SPECIALIST
GROUPS SUCH
AS SAME
SEX OFFENDERS,
BME, WOMEN?
The National Probation Service does accept
perpetrators form the age of 18 onto their accredited programmes.
However while there is interest to develop more specialist domestic
violence programmes, it is likely that the most effective community
response would be in partnership with existing community organisations.
The Voluntary Sector has an excellent
track record both with working with the victims and perpetrators
of Domestic Violence, Some of the Probation Areas fund victim
organisations to complete the Women Safety Work element of the
statutory programmes and it is feasible joint work could be undertaken
to provide suitable perpetrator programmes for specialist groups.
As previously referred the mapping exercise in the South West
could provide the framework for this way forward.
Additionally, while the Probation Service
does not receive funding to work with unconvicted perpetrators
there are a number of partnership arrangements with voluntary
sector providers which provide an outlet for unconvicted perpetrators
to complete IDAP/CDVP alongside convicted offenders.
February 2008
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