Jersey Probation and After Care Service Brian Heath Chief Probation Officer

Implementing “What Works” in a small Jurisdiction Population 88,000 5,000 – 5,500 crimes per annum 35% - 40% detection. 2nd highest GNI per capita in Europe ($57K U.S.) Lowest? public expenditure per head in Europe

Jersey Probation and After Care Service 2008 39 employees (27 Full time equivalent) 24 volunteers £1.5 million revenue budget, 86% staff costs £30,000 budget programmes, grants etc 600 – 700 reports per year Approx 200 Probation Orders per year Approx 200 Community Service Orders per year, 14,500 hours performed in 2007 5 – 10 prisoners being supervised on early release with E.M. at any one time Automatic prison through care since 2006.

“What Works” in Jersey Longstanding commitment to evidence based practice (since early 1990’s). Commitment to research to inform practice. Assessment, individual and group work. Continuity Individual practice underpinned by “Working with Involuntary Clients” Trotter (1999) Bonta (2004) Cardiff paper.

“What Works” in Jersey Jersey 1989 602 Custodial sentences 91% of custodial sentences under 6 months 116 Probation Orders made 64 Community Service Orders imposed

Prison doesn’t work - Probation Service Actions “What Works” in Jersey Prison doesn’t work - Probation Service Actions Not recommending custody. Community Service assessment in all imprisonable cases “Fit for Custody, fit for CS” Stand Down reports introduced Drug awareness course Alcohol Study Group

“What Works” in Jersey? Actions (continued) Drunk and Incapable Unit Promoted Probation 1992 onwards – “What Works” research and associated practice changes

“What Works in Jersey” Assessment using LSI-R locally calibrated Cognitive Behavioural Programmes chosen to meet Risk and need Importance of Individual Probation Officer Client Relationship – “Advise Assist Befriend” Case Management and Information systems (DAISy) and Academic Research, (University of Swansea) feeding back to inform and improve practice

“What Works in Jersey” The Results Custodial Sentences down – From 602 in 1989 to 216 by 1995 and similar levels since. Sentences of under 6 months reduced from 91% to 54% (2006) Probation Orders up from 116 to 172 (2007) Community Service Orders up from 64 to 185 (2007)

“What Works” in Jersey Results (Cont.) Drunk and Incapable Unit – 75 to 130 Police referrals p.a.

“What Works” in Jersey In 2007:- 72% of Probationers reduced their risk of re-offending (measured by LSI-R). 74% of highest risk Probationers (LSI of 24+) showed a reduction in their risk of re-offending. Over 14,000 hours of Community Service performed for the Island by offenders who would otherwise have been imprisoned. Probationers have a higher average risk score than prisoners.

“What Works” in Jersey Probationer Profile 2006. 90% have previous convictions 25% have previously served a custodial sentence.

Prison “Snapshot” June 2006 “What Works” in Jersey Prison “Snapshot” June 2006 Prison population 222 (250 per 100,000) - But Only 3 Prisoners serving sentences of less than 6 months, 8 serving less than 12 months 4 of these had breached community sentences. 1 prisoner aged under 18 years.

“What Works” in Jersey. Successful alternatives to custody “have to be part of a wider initiative to reduce the use of imprisonment and this requires political and judicial support and the absence of negative public reaction” (Walters 2004)

“What Works” in Jersey No significant new legislation No Government Policy or strategy regarding the use of custody – neutral and passive. “Bottom up” strategy Tried to avoid “Managerialism” Marketing and selling the alternatives on offer; taking “customers” with us; measuring success (not in terms of reducing custody) and celebrating success

“What Works” in Jersey As CPO I believe it is vital to use research and local evidence to feed back into practice development and training to ensure that we are giving our service users, the Courts and the public the most effective and efficient service that we can. “What Works” is not a one off change – it is a continuous process which is never finished.