Probation Work

Introduction

The Criminal Justice Act 2003 changed the way in which the Criminal Justice System worked.  One of the major changes was to the sentencing options available to Magistrates' and Crown Courts. The aim of the Act was to reduce crime and re-offending by modernising the Criminal Justice System from end to end - from arrest, to prosecution to effective sentencing action by courts and the rehabilitation of offenders.

Derbyshire Probation Trust aims to provide tough, effective sentences designed to reduce offending and introduce measures to enable successful rehabilitation and to protect the public.

We believe that innovation is one key to ensuring we are always improving our effectiveness.  Over the years we have adopted many of the best aspects of such work.

Recent examples include the Intensive Alternative to Custody pilot (IAC) which ran for 3 years.  The best ideas from our pilot, and others from around the country, have been incorporated into a new, similar project - Intensive Offender Management or IOM.  Started in late 2010 in Derby City, it is now being rolled out in the county.

IOM develops the idea of daily offender case reviews by multi-agency teams.  Targeting prolific offenders, the project is already showing signs of success in tackling the 10 percent of offenders who are responsible for up to 40 percent of all re-offending.  Less re-offending means fewer future victims of crime and reduced costs to the Justice System. 

From the original IAC pilot, we have already embraced one successful concept - that of mentors for certain offenders.  Now an integral part of our REACH project (supporting offenders to gain training, employment skills and jobs).

We have also piloted polygraph testing for sex offenders and created a behavioural programme for violent female offenders.

Download a copy of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. 

Find out more information about the Probation Service by visiting The Home Office or the Ministry of Justice websites.