| Risk Assessment and Risk Management
Every offender under the supervision of Essex Probation staff is carefully assessed to determine the likelihood of them re-offending and the risk of harm to the public that is likely to result from further offences. This assessment is kept under regular review as attitudes, behaviour and circumstances can change over time. Where a risk of serious harm to the public is identified, a plan is put in place to manage that risk, often involving working closely with other relevant agencies.
Managing Dangerous Offenders
A very small number of offenders do pose an imminent risk of serious harm to identifiable victims or to the public at large. Violent and sexual offenders come into this category and Essex Probation staff make a key contribution to managing that risk in collaboration with the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements.
Multi Agency Public Protection Panels operate throughout the six counties, convened and chaired by police or probation managers. Dependant on the case, representatives from other relevant organisations will attend.
The Prison Service
The Health Authorities
Local Authority Housing Departments
Housing Associations
Social Services
Electronic Monitoring Services
can all be invited to contribute both information and practical suggestions to the Action Plan for managing a dangerous offender.
Major successes have already been achieved through such cooperation both in terms of ensuring offenders comply with conditions of Court Orders or licences on release from prison which can reduce the risk of re-offending and also in terms of prompt and decisive action where risk appears to be increasing, e.g. ensuring that the offender is recalled to prison.
Serious Further Offences
It is very rare that offenders under supervision who have previously committed very serious offences re-offend. More commonly those under supervision who are convicted of the most serious offences had shown little previous signs of their capacity for causing serious harm. This reinforces the need for vigilance and continuous assessment in all cases. It is not surprising that supervised offenders in the community do sometimes commit serious offences and, when that happens, a full internal investigation is taken to ensure Essex Probation Service continues to develop its knowledge of the factors leading to those often unpredictable actions and makes any improvements to its practice that could further reduce that risk.
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