An extensive study into the National Probation Service's work with alcohol misusing offenders has been produced by the Institute for Criminal Policy Research at King's College London. It is available here on the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) site.
'Evidence-based practice? The National Probation Service’s work with alcohol-misusing offenders' appraises the current situation and options being undertaken in supporting offenders who have alcohol problems and the delivery of Alcohol Treatment Requirements (ATRs). The report provides a number of discussion points and recommendations including:
- Screening and intervening with alcohol-misusing offenders
- Probation staff training
- The commissioning and delivery of ATRs
- Developing the evidence base
The findings come as part of work led by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) to improve alcohol responses within the Probation service by developing the commissioning and delivery of alcohol treatment options and improving the skills of offender managers to support alcohol misusing clients. NOMS have also recently been funding a number of further alcohol-related best practice projects and events across the country. An Offender Health IBA pilot is also underway in in Eastern Region Prisons and South Central Probation.
Last year a comprehensive 'Alcohol Information Pack' was released to provide offender managers with guidance and skills in supporting alcohol misuse. A forthcoming alcohol interventions guidance document will also soon be available from NOMS which will support the commissioning and delivery of appropriate alcohol treatment and wider responses.
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