Offending Behaviour Programmes delivered at HM Prison Service Wakefield in assisting learning disabl

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Offending Behaviour Programmes delivered at HM
Prison Service Wakefield in assisting learning
disabled men address their offending behaviour

• Vikki Bleanch
• Chartered Forensic Psychologist
• Lisa Burton
• Chartered Forensic Psychologist
• April 10th 2006

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Background

• There is a slightly raised prevalence of mildly
  and borderline learning disabled people among
  offenders.
• There is a slightly raised incidence of offending
  among mildly and borderline disabled people.
• A higher conviction rate should be expected
  because of the raised risk of detection for this
  group.
• There is a clearly lowered incidence of offending
  among severely and profoundly learning disabled
  people.
• Borderline learning disabled offenders have a
  raised rate of recidivism.
• (Lund, 1990)

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Discrimination

• People with LD spend longer in prison
• Experience more victimisation, exploitation and
  injury
• Commit more disciplinary violation
• Are denied access to rehabilitative programmes
• (Endicott, 1991 McDaniel, 1987 Ruiz vs.
  Estelle, 1980 Santamour West, 1982)

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Interventions

• Adapted ETS
• Adapted SOTP
• Adapted Better Lives Booster

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Adapted ETS

• Background
• Learning capacity
• Confidence issues
• Honesty
• Teaching Methods

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Adaptations

• Number of sessions
• Simplifying language
• Sub group work
• Support

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Effectiveness of the Adapted ETS Programme

• Motivation
• Engagement
• Enjoyable
• Rewarding

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Adapted Sex Offender Treatment Programme (ASOTP)

• Background
• Who is ASOTP for?
• What is it?
• - Intended aims of programme
• - Intended outcomes of programme
• How do we do it?
• Does it work?

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Background

• 1991 start of offence focused work with sexual
  offenders.
• ASOTP developed from Core SOTP to meet needs of
  intellectually and socially low functioning
  offenders
• First delivered at HMP Wakefield in 1998
• Adapted Better Lives Booster now delivered by HMPS

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Who is it for?

• IQ between 65 and 80
• Note that men accessing ASOTP not traditionally
  regarded as learning disabled they function at
  a slightly higher level average IQ is 72

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What is it?

• Cognitive-behavioural programme
• Aims increase sexual knowledge
• undermine distortions
• increase awareness of victim harm
• develop relapse prevention skills
• increase individuals self-esteem

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What is it? contin.

• Outcomes reduce recidivism
• increase pro-social
  cognition/attitudes
• increase skills
• increase pro-social
  behaviour
• increase knowledge

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How do we do it?

• Simplified language
• Gestures
• Symbols/pictures
• Drawings
• Other visual stimuli
• Roleplay

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How do we do it? contin.

• Reinforcement
• Specific praise
• Modelling

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Does it work?

• Recent paper (Williams et al) submitted to
  Psychology of Crime and Law had peer review
  feedback
• First psychometric evaluation of ASOTP
• Results indicate that ASOTP is an effective
  treatment programme.
• Clinical change is observed in a number of
  assessments pre to post treatment.
• Limitations

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Contact us

• Write HMP Wakefield
• Love Lane
• Wakefield
• WF2 9AG
• Phone - 01924 246146 Lisa
• 01924 246148 Vikki
• E-mail lisa.burton_at_hmps.gsi.gov.uk
• vikki.bleanch_at_hmps.gsi.gov.uk