Enforcement

Offender attitudes and behaviour cannot be changed unless offenders are seen on a regular basis and know that if they fail to attend appointments they will be returned to court or prison. Enforcement and compliance are key elements of the role of the offender manager whose task it is to ensure that offenders report in accordance with national standards which state that as a minimum offenders should report to their probation officer on a weekly basis during the first three months of supervision after which frequency can be reviewed depending on assessment of risk in each individual case. Where offenders fail to attend without a good reason after one warning offenders will be returned to court or recalled back to prison within 10 working days of the failure to attend (referred to as ‘breaching’ offenders)

During 2005/6 Wiltshire Probation Area breached 99% of offenders within the 10 working day standard. Community penalties and prison release licences can only be effective when backed up by rigorous enforcement and compliance expectations.