Transcript Performance Management

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Rehabilitation & Employment
Services
Circles of Support and Accountability
In New Zealand
A Cautious Approach
Jim van Rensburg
The Reintegration Puzzle 2013
Reducing Re-offending Operating Principles
Purposeful offender interactions | Seamless management of offenders | Succeeding with Māori | Professional judgement |
Evidence based approach | Optimised external relationships | Department-wide collaboration | Cost effective & efficient services
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There is much to be proud of in the systems that
have developed to protect our children and the
public generally from those people assessed as
posing a high risk of continuing harm.
It is, however, the responsibility of us all to
ensure that such work is carried out in a manner
that is respectful and exemplifies humanity and
care.
Reducing Re-offending Operating Principles
Purposeful offender interactions | Seamless management of offenders | Succeeding with Māori | Professional judgement |
Evidence based approach | Optimised external relationships | Department-wide collaboration | Cost effective & efficient services
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Continuing legislation that toughens and tightens the
freedom of individuals in the name of public protection
is not always in the best interest of society as a whole.
If we demonise a particular group of people, excluding
them from our communities, their risk will rise and
others will be hurt. These are the challenges we all
face in the successful management of those who have
committed sexual offences and remain a risk to the
public.
Chris Wilson : “Managing the Problem” - 2011
Reducing Re-offending Operating Principles
Purposeful offender interactions | Seamless management of offenders | Succeeding with Māori | Professional judgement |
Evidence based approach | Optimised external relationships | Department-wide collaboration | Cost effective & efficient services
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CoSA – The Beginning
•1994 Ontario, Canada
• Mennonite Church
• Rev Harry Nigh
• CoSA applied to offenders on WED
(Warrant Expiry Date)
Reducing Re-offending Operating Principles
Purposeful offender interactions | Seamless management of offenders | Succeeding with Māori | Professional judgement |
Evidence based approach | Optimised external relationships | Department-wide collaboration | Cost effective & efficient services
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Circles UK
• Circles in the UK started in 2000
• Release of CSO created public anger
• Home office reluctant – unsafe for volunteers
• Lucy Faithful Foundation – obtained funding
• Soon followed by Quakers in Thames Valley
• Organic (Canada) and Systemic (UK)
Reducing Re-offending Operating Principles
Purposeful offender interactions | Seamless management of offenders | Succeeding with Māori | Professional judgement |
Evidence based approach | Optimised external relationships | Department-wide collaboration | Cost effective & efficient services
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Circles UK
• Success in Thames Valley
• Growing number of individual projects
• 2007 – Circles UK formed
• By 2010 = 74 circles in UK
Reducing Re-offending Operating Principles
Purposeful offender interactions | Seamless management of offenders | Succeeding with Māori | Professional judgement |
Evidence based approach | Optimised external relationships | Department-wide collaboration | Cost effective & efficient services
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Circles Europe
• Circles started in Netherlands 2008
• In 2009 : Circles Europe – Together for
Safety
• Funding from European Union
• Now in Belgium and other European
countries.
• Pilot Programmes in Ireland and Scotland
Reducing Re-offending Operating Principles
Purposeful offender interactions | Seamless management of offenders | Succeeding with Māori | Professional judgement |
Evidence based approach | Optimised external relationships | Department-wide collaboration | Cost effective & efficient services
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Challenge in NZ
• Increasingly tough sentences
• Preventive Detention (PD) a way to
contain risk
• 2002 – Change to 5 year min parole
period for PD sentences
• By 2007 – 121 on PD
Reducing Re-offending Operating Principles
Purposeful offender interactions | Seamless management of offenders | Succeeding with Māori | Professional judgement |
Evidence based approach | Optimised external relationships | Department-wide collaboration | Cost effective & efficient services
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To Treat or not to Treat
• Men on PD eligible for treatment
• Treated but then not released
• Lacked robust support
• Had to show – no longer a risk to
society
• CoSA introduced at Te Piriti in 2009
Reducing Re-offending Operating Principles
Purposeful offender interactions | Seamless management of offenders | Succeeding with Māori | Professional judgement |
Evidence based approach | Optimised external relationships | Department-wide collaboration | Cost effective & efficient services
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Pilot Project
• Pilot Project approved
• Started in 2009 at Te Piriti
• Buy-in from Parole Board
• Other key stakeholders on board
• Low public profile
• Learnt from overseas experience
Reducing Re-offending Operating Principles
Purposeful offender interactions | Seamless management of offenders | Succeeding with Māori | Professional judgement |
Evidence based approach | Optimised external relationships | Department-wide collaboration | Cost effective & efficient services
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Te Piriti Special Treatment Unit
Auckland
Reducing Re-offending Operating Principles
Purposeful offender interactions | Seamless management of offenders | Succeeding with Māori | Professional judgement |
Evidence based approach | Optimised external relationships | Department-wide collaboration | Cost effective & efficient services
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Circle of Support & Accountability
Professionals
Volunteers
Core member
Reducing Re-offending Operating Principles
Purposeful offender interactions | Seamless management of offenders | Succeeding with Māori | Professional judgement |
Evidence based approach | Optimised external relationships | Department-wide collaboration | Cost effective & efficient services
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First Circle of Support & Accountability 2010
Reducing Re-offending Operating Principles
Purposeful offender interactions | Seamless management of offenders | Succeeding with Māori | Professional judgement |
Evidence based approach | Optimised external relationships | Department-wide collaboration | Cost effective & efficient services
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The Circle Process
• Determine readiness of potential core
member
• Identify suitable volunteers (vetting process)
• Temporary releases
• Expand circle and train volunteers
• Involve professionals (Probation, Police etc)
• Release by Parole Board
• Support Circle operation
• Takes 12 – 24 months
Reducing Re-offending Operating Principles
Purposeful offender interactions | Seamless management of offenders | Succeeding with Māori | Professional judgement |
Evidence based approach | Optimised external relationships | Department-wide collaboration | Cost effective & efficient services
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Outcome of Pilot project (Offenders)
• Ten men released on circles
• Four recalled, one of whom re-offended
• Longest out 42 months, five out between
18 – 36 months
• Temporary releases critical
• Trust between circle and probation critical
• Circles instrumental in recalls
Reducing Re-offending Operating Principles
Purposeful offender interactions | Seamless management of offenders | Succeeding with Māori | Professional judgement |
Evidence based approach | Optimised external relationships | Department-wide collaboration | Cost effective & efficient services
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Pilot Outcome (Volunteers)
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56 Volunteers were recruited and trained
Key supporter finding others
No major public announcements or promotion
Networking and addressing small groups
Introduce them to Parole Board - transparency
Reducing Re-offending Operating Principles
Purposeful offender interactions | Seamless management of offenders | Succeeding with Māori | Professional judgement |
Evidence based approach | Optimised external relationships | Department-wide collaboration | Cost effective & efficient services
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Pilot Outcome (Stakeholders)
• Key stakeholders approved and supported the
project
• No panic or anger thus far
• Thankfully not tested through misconduct
• Maori and Pacifica People support CoSA
• Circles now also at Kia Marama
Reducing Re-offending Operating Principles
Purposeful offender interactions | Seamless management of offenders | Succeeding with Māori | Professional judgement |
Evidence based approach | Optimised external relationships | Department-wide collaboration | Cost effective & efficient services
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Effect
• Circle becomes substitute family
• Re-offending reduced significantly
• Quality of offenders’ lives improved
• Volunteers say its a meaningful experience
• 68% in community feel safer when offender
in circle (Canadian research)
• Saves tax payer in excess of $50K p.a. per
released prisoner
Reducing Re-offending Operating Principles
Purposeful offender interactions | Seamless management of offenders | Succeeding with Māori | Professional judgement |
Evidence based approach | Optimised external relationships | Department-wide collaboration | Cost effective & efficient services
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Current Challenge
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Expectations of PD offenders
Currently 142 in prison
Formed “prep” group at unit 9 – currently 12 men
Selection panel to determine readiness
Need many more volunteers
Need funding – training, volunteer expenses etc
Need to go public with confidence
Reducing Re-offending Operating Principles
Purposeful offender interactions | Seamless management of offenders | Succeeding with Māori | Professional judgement |
Evidence based approach | Optimised external relationships | Department-wide collaboration | Cost effective & efficient services
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Whereto from here?
• Circles ideally a joint venture between State
and Community
• Should ideally be managed by a joint Trust,
mainly funded by State
• Should be available to all high risk CSO
Submission made to National Office
• Accepted in principle
Reducing Re-offending Operating Principles
Purposeful offender interactions | Seamless management of offenders | Succeeding with Māori | Professional judgement |
Evidence based approach | Optimised external relationships | Department-wide collaboration | Cost effective & efficient services