Derbyshire Probation Service provides a range of specially-designed programmes, each designed to help change behaviour which leads people to offend. Programmes are accredited by the Home Office / Ministry of Justice and follow a national core curriculum.

 Back to top

CALM – Controlling Anger and Learning to Manage it

This programme is based on the principle that the way in which people think affects the way they behave. Many people who have committed violent crime have poor emotional control.

Offenders are required to attend 24 2-hour lessons and are assessed throughout the programme. There is also a requirement to attend an initial appointment, pre and post programme questionnaire sessions, and a final review meeting.

Outcomes:

• Identify and manage arousal

• Recognise and remedy cognitive and perceptual distortions

• Learn and develop asertive communication skills

• Anticipate and prepare for relapse

Programme content:

A range of groupwork and individual excercises. Offenders are expected to participate in discussions, role plays and excercises to practice and develop skills learnt. There is an emphasis on taking responsibility for one’s own learning, and some assignment work may be completed outside of the sessions.

 Back to top

IDAP – Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme

This groupwork programme is for men who have been abusive in their relationships with women. Offenders who deny responsibility for the offence are not accepted onto the programme.

Outcomes:

• Appreciate the impact of their behaviour on their partners / ex-partners and children

• Learn more effective skills for managing close personal relationships

• Identify risk factors in their lifestyles, and learn how to manage them effectively

Workers from the group will also make contact with partners or ex-partners to provide support and to seek their views about the mens’ progress during the programme.

 Back to top

CSOGP - Community Sex Offender Groupwork Programme

This is a constructive programme for male offenders convicted of sexual assaults against children and adults. The aims are to reduce the risks posed by this group of offenders. There is considerable emphasis on the offender taking responsibility for the offence, its impact on others, the need to develop interpersonal skills, and understanding their past patterns of thinking, feeling and behaviour.

Outcomes:

• Identify situations and control distorted thinking which would lead to the risk of further offending

• Understand the impact of their behaviour on their victim

• Take responsibility for their behaviour

• Consider the views of others

• Manage their behaviour more effectively

 Back to top

ATR – Alcohol Treatment Requirement

People who are committing offences related to their misuse of alcohol are offered the opportunity of assessment and treatment through an Alcohol Treatment Requirement. Offenders have to give their consent to being made subject to an ATR prior to being sentenced by the Courts and the treatment requirement is usually 6 months in length.  

An ATR offers people with an alcohol dependency one-to-one appointments with a specialist worker who is contracted by the Probation Service from the Health Service, as well as giving them access to in-patient or home detoxification as necessary.  ATRs offer offenders the opportunity to address their alcohol misuse with appropriate support, with the Probation Service ensuring that appointments are kept and progress is made.

Alcohol breath tests are carried out on a regular basis and support is offered in looking at changing lifestyles and responses to situations which may trigger alcohol use.  

 Back to top

DRIDS – Drink Impaired Drivers’ Programme

This programme has been developed for men and women convicted of a second drink-drive offence, or whose first offence had aggravating features. Offenders must learn about the effects and consequences of drinking and driving, to enable them to separate the two activities and become responsible drivers. It is not suitable for those with an alcohol dependency.

 Back to top

DOVE

An NSPCC project that aims to protect vulnerable people by working with convicted sex offenders to change their offending behaviour.

 Back to top

DRR – Drug Rehabilitation Requirement

People who commit offences to support their drug misuse are offered the opportunity of assessment and treatment through a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement.  Usually, although not exclusively, DRRs are given to Class A drug users, primarily those who use heroin, crack / cocaine and amphetamine. 

Offenders have to give their consent to being made subject to a DRR prior to being sentenced by the Courts and their treatment can last from 6 months to three years whilst being supervised by the Probation Service.  Often offenders on DRRs may have accessed drug treatment in the community and in prison in the past, so a DRR is a way of ensuring that they are keeping their appointments and engaging with the relevant treatment agencies.  

Drug testing is a key part of a DRR as it enables progress to be measured. Every month, an offender subject to a DRR goes back to the Court where they were sentenced for a review of their progress.  

We work in conjunction with a number of partner agencies in the community and in prisons to be able to provide drug misusing offenders with a variety of opportunities to address their use of substances and stop offending.

 Back to top

ETS - Enhanced Training Programmes

ETS programmes are for medium and high-risk offenders who have a faulty approach to problem solving. ETS teaches offenders to develop problem-solving skills, to see a situation from other peoples’ point of view, and to develop a range of improved social interaction skills.

 Back to top