In recent decades, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has become a cornerstone of criminal justice rehabilitation strategies, based on a simple yet powerful premise: if criminal thinking is learned, it can also be unlearned. CBT-based interventions aim to address the distorted thought patterns, attitudes, and behaviours that lead individuals to offend—and… By Martin Jerrold...
The criminal justice system is under quite the pressure at the moment, with overcrowded prisons, high reoffending rates and ever reducing funding. In the search for a solutions many organisations are turning to digital interventions to address offending behaviour. CBT, or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is an approach many providers are… By Cindy Mann...
The main goals of therapeutic approaches in the Criminal Justice System are to lessen reoffending and increase victim protection. Usually in the form of organised initiatives assisting people in conquering bad habits like domestic violence, these interventions frequently help people. The increasing rate of violence against women and girls highlights the need… By Jake Neller...
The UK government’s ambitious sentencing overhaul, aimed at alleviating prison overcrowding, is placing unprecedented demands on the already strained Probation Service. As reforms shift the focus from short custodial sentences to community-based alternatives, concerns are growing over the service’s capacity to manage the increased workload effectively. Sentencing Reforms and Probation… By Jonathan Hussey ...
Building positive relationships in prison is challenging. As a professional working with individuals who may be experiencing emotional dysregulation, the question is how to make those meaningful, impactful connections that facilitate good rehabilitative work. So, what does a good relationship look like? Is the person engaging with me in a… By Gemma Waller ...
For professionals working with individuals who have a criminal record, employment is often a key focus. A stable job can bring structure, routine and the opportunity to rebuild self-worth. It helps people move away from offending and toward a future that feels both purposeful and achievable however securing that first… By Chris English ...
The Ministry of Justice’s latest Reducing Reoffending: Evidence Synthesis (April 2025) offers an interesting update on the effectiveness of interventions designed to reduce reoffending in England and Wales. Why This Matters Data suggests that reoffending remains a persistent challenge. According to recent figures, nearly half of adults released from custody… By Jonathan Hussey ...
By Gemma Waller What do you think prison is like? This is the question most people think when they have a first-time custodial sentence hanging over them. What is it like? How will I survive? Perhaps they have reruns of a thousand prison films running through their mind. The reality… WWO ...
Supporting Change, Not Just Managing Risk Working with people who have offended is often challenging, complex, and, at times, frustrating — but it can also be deeply rewarding. Behind every offence is a story, and behind every individual is potential. When we stop viewing people solely through the lens of… WWO Team ...
The proposed revisions reflect changes in legislation, developments in case law, recent sentencing research, and feedback from criminal justice practitioners. The Imposition guideline sets out the general principles for imposing community orders and custodial sentences, and in what circumstances a custodial sentence can be suspended, among other sentencing considerations. The… The Sentencing Council has published a consultation on proposed revisions to the Imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline. ...