Helen GreenardChoose Change Project Manager

3 year pilot working with prisoners serving less than 12 months in HMP Manchester.

Team works on voluntary basis with offenders whilst in custody & through gate.

Supports offenders into accommodation, treatment services, ETE provision etc.

Currently works with offenders released into Manchester, Salford & Trafford.

No statutory supervision upon release Nationally 60,000 prisoners are jailed for

less than 12 months each year costing £300 million

60% rate of reoffending in prisoners serving less than 12 months.

Majority of short sentences are for 3 mths or less, only 10% are for more than 6 mths

‘EFFORTS BY PRISONS TO LINK SHORT –SENTENCED PRISONERS TO OTHER SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY VARY IN QUALITY BUT TEND TO BE LIMITED AND INCONSISTENT. THEY ARE MORE COMPLEX IN THAT PRISONS MAY RETURN PRISONERS TO NUMEROUS LAS’.

Since the project commenced in Sept 2008

Over 200 individuals have entered onto the project

Over 50% remain engaged or have successfully completed the project.

Worked with over 80 agencies ranging from housing services to mental health teams within the prison and across Manchester, Salford & Trafford.

Of the 33 prisoners who entered onto the project between Nov 09 – Apr 10

67% had no permanent address on release (37% were NFA)

85% unemployed prior to custody (rose to 94% whilst in custody)

Over 85% had drug and/or alcohol issues Had on average 8 custodial sentences &

10 court disposals. 89% sentenced to 6 months or less.

Entering on project

45% of Manchester clients in long term accommodation

44% of Salford clients in long term accommodation

26% of Manchester & 31% of Salford NFA.

Completion of project

76% of Manchester clients in long term accommodation.

81% of Salford clients in long term accommodation.

0% NFA.

Choose Change clients were compared to a group of prisoners in HMP Manc serving less than 12 months released to Greater Manchester but not Salford or Manchester.

Using PNCID this was matched to police arrest data for the period 1st September 2008 through March 2010.

The following is based upon a 3 month ‘re-arrest’ period.

There were 108 prisoners who had been subjected to the Choose Change project and included in the arrest analysis.

The overall prison sample was made up of 646 prisoners.

This includes duplications where some individuals will have returned to prison within a relatively short time period.

For the Choose Change group, 14.8% were ‘arrested’ within a three month period.

For the HMP Prison group 23.5% were ‘arrested’ within a three month period.

The employment of arrest data is a ‘crude’ measure of recidivism and project success.

Arrest rates are not an indicator of levels of reoffending or reconviction.

The accuracy of Arrest data is contingent upon the administrative processes and resources of the Police Service .

On current analysis arrest rates are lower for those prisoners who were involved with the Choose Change project when compared to non-participating prisoners.

There is a need to explore that factors that contribute to reduced levels of arrest for those clients who are referred and accepted to the Choose Change project.

Weighted average of cost of future career per offender is £150,636

Cost per offender of Choose Change is £2,034 Choose Change breaks even if the cost of future

criminal career is no greater than £148,602 (£150,636 - £2,034)

Such a future career cost requires rate of re-offending in 1st year after release of no more than 59·01%

The rate of re-offending in the first year after release for short-term offenders who have received no intervention is 59·9%

A reduction in re-offending of 0·89% over and above the standard rate of offending for short-term prisoners will allow Choose Change to at least break even

Full assessment undertaken to identify needs Gain access to prison interventions Prioritise & sequence interventions co-ordinated by Choose

Change worker Put things in place before release Taken to appointments especially important in first few weeks. Liase with other agencies re new developments Link in with PPO, IAC, IOM, Achieve Indepth knowledge of community resources Follow up interventions been set in custody Piloted Dyslexia service, victim workbook, bank account. 1 – 1 Support Integrate into community resources after 3 months Choose Change clients setting up service user group/peer support

Pilot Project ends in March 2011. Due to positive results believe its beneficial to

continue after this. The project addresses the issue of the under 12

month prison population, links with Transforming Justice.

Final evaluation due in April 2011 – interim report indicates project will have impact on reoffending rates and is cost effective.

Funding has been secured to continue the project for 2011/2012 at same level.

Work currently being carried out to see if the project could be expanded to other prisons so rest of GM could be covered – additional funding required to enable this.

It has helped me to get in touch with people who can help me get in work and help me get my own place to live. I have been helped a lot since I have been out of prison, something I’ve never had before. CB (Manchester).

Its been brilliant, a great help. Don’t know what I would of done without the help. RD (Manchester)

When I was in prison I had many plans and ideas, but was not totally confident that I would be able to put these into action. I was still struggling with drugs and housing issues. Upon release my Choose Change worker helped to keep me occupied and out of trouble. Having someone to help me keep focused has really helped me and now I have my own tenancy and am actively looking for work. Choose Change has helped me no end. PB (Salford)