OVERVIEW OF OFFENDERS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES

1
Geraldine OHare Chartered Forensic
Psychologist Val Owens Practice Development and
Programme Manager Integrated Supervision Unit
(ISU) Alderwood
OVERVIEW OF OFFENDERS WITH LEARNING
DISABILITIES WITHIN THE PROBATION BOARD FOR
NORTHERN IRELAND ADAPTED COMMUNITY SEX OFFENDER
TREATMENT PROGRAMME
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THE ROLE OF PBNI

• AIM is to help reduce crime and the harm it
  does.
• MISSION to integrate offenders successfully into
  the community by reducing re-offending.
• VISION to have the confidence and support of the
  courts and community so that we can
  supervise offender within the community
  effectively.

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PBNI Corporate Plan 2002-2005 THREE KEY THEMES

• PUBLIC PROTECTION
• PARTNERSHIP
• PROFESSIONALISM

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PBNI OFFENDER POPULATION

• 50 have 3 or more convictions
• 20 have served custodial sentences
• Custody Probation Order (CPO)
• 135 Probation Officers
• 2,500 Offenders
• 6,000 Pre Sentence Reports
• 1/3 High 1/3 Medium, 1/3 Low Risk
• 80 Listed Cases

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WHAT HAPPENS PRE-SENTENCE?

• PSR
• Current Assessment Models
• ACE
• Risk Assessment
• Psychiatric/Psychological Assessment
• Options available pre-court
• Pre-Court packages
• Above relevant and appropriate to offenders
• with learning disabilities?

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HIGH NEED HIGH RISK GROUP?
Therefore options available as court disposals

• Hospital Orders
• Custody Probation Order
• Custody
• Probation Order
• Supervision Treatment Order
• Community Service Order

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WHAT HAPPENS IN CUSTODY?

• Risk Management
• MASRAM
• Offending behaviour programmes
• Services for offenders with
• learning disabilities

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WHAT HAPPENS IN THE COMMUNITY?

• Supervision Standards
• MASRAM
• Risk Management (Multi-agency)
• Accredited Offending behaviour
• programmes

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• The Adapted Community Sex Offender Programme
• Accredited Home Office Programme
• Adapted from the Core Sex Offender Programme
• Designed for Offenders with FSIQ 65-80
• Mild / Borderline
• Mainstream Programme require IQ of 80
• Programme Duration
• Selection of Group Members
• Plans for Northern Ireland

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• The Adapted Community Sex Offender Programme
• Theory Manual Content
• Etiology of Sexual Offending
• Developmental Factors
• Dynamic Risk Factors
• Treatment Targets
• Treatment Methods
• Treatment Style

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• The Adapted Community Sex Offender Programme
• Summary of Programme Content
• Introductory Sessions (4 Sessions)
• Sex Education (4 Sessions)
• My Offence (32 sessions)
• Victim Awareness (6 Sessions)
• New Me Tactics (20 Sessions)

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QUESTIONS

• How appropriate and effective is mainstream
  offender risk
• assessment management to offenders with
  learning
• disabilities?
• Does it work?
• How can we maximise multi-agency working?
• How can we develop the strategic lead and
  ownership in
• Northern Ireland to make multi-agency working
  effective in the
• interest of this client group and the wider
  public?

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• Way Forward, Conclusions Recommendations
• Multi-Agency Working
• Work to an agreed strategy
• Specialist Forensic Learning Disability Services
• Maximise client potential
• Public protection