THE DOMICE PROJECT

1. A PROJECT TO BE PROUD OF THE DOMICE PROJECT A Transnational Project Supported by the European Union Steve Pitts – Project Director National Offender Management Service – England and Wales

2. The Lead Partner eveloping DOMI CE ffender Partner Jurisdictions anagement A Transnational Project Supported by the European Union The European Organisation n orrections in Research Partners urope Operational : March 2010 – November 2011

3. What was the focus of the project? • How case management (assessment, planning, co-ordinated implementation of the plan, review, revision and evaluation) is organised, designed and delivered to adult offenders • across the whole of the correctional system • in all European jurisdictions Pre-Sentence Non-Custodial Sentences Prison Sentences Supervised Release Assess Plan Implement Evaluate Review Bearing in mind that some European countries have multiple jurisdictions

4. Why did we focus on this process? • because it is the core process jurisdictions use to deliver punishments, rehabilitation, prisoner resettlement, public protection, and restorative justice • because it is the core process by which punishments, treatments and interventions are “mixed and matched” so that they are effective at the level of each individual • because we need to understand more about how things operate in different countries as more offenders move from country to country and we look to transfer more sentences ...and what did we aim to achieve? • a shared common concept with which to compare and contrast • a learning network of practitioners and managers • better cross-border understanding • good practice ideas to support improvement: • value for money, effectiveness, rehabilitation, prisoner re-integration, restorative justice, public protection

5. What method did we use? • We........ • produced a Literature Review • designed, tested (and then abandoned) an online questionnaire • found a “correspondent” in each jurisdiction (40+) using “patient persistence” • designed a common System Map to compare and contrast systems • ........here is the template from which we built all the System Maps ......

6. DOMICE- System Map-(Jurisdiction) (date) Pre-Sentence Diversion from Prosecution Non-Custodial Options 2 1 2.1 Non-custodial Orders or Sentences - types 1 - n 1.1 Conditional Bail 2.2 Non-custodial Supervision for those with Mental Ill Health 1.2 Mediation 1.3 Pre-sentence supervision 2.3 Suspended Custody with Conditions or Supervision 4.1 Unsupervised release at full term 1.4 Pre-sentence assessment and report preparation Sentence Passed 4.2 Unsupervised Early Release Immediate Custody Supervised Release 4 3 4.3 Discretionary Early Release with Electronic Monitoring and/or Home Curfew 3.1 Immediate Custody 1.6 Bail or Conditional Bail 1.7 Pre-sentence Supervision 4.4 Automatic Conditional and/or Supervised Early Release DIVERSION FROM PRE-SENTENCE CUSTODY 4.5 Discretionary conditional and/or supervised Early Release (Parole) Executive or Judicial Decision Making? 1.5 Pre-Sentence Custody 3.2 Part-custodial, part-non-custodial (supervised) sentence

7. What method did we use? • We........ • produced a Literature Review • designed, tested (and then abandoned) an online questionnaire • found a “correspondent” in each jurisdiction (40+) using “patient persistence” • designed a common System Map to compare and contrast systems • we then conducted telephone interviews with each correspondent • built a customised System Map for each jurisdiction • refined the System Maps through rounds of editing • designed and ran 5 Focus Groups in regions of Europe • further edited the System Maps • ran an international conference • built a website with our findings and the System Maps The methodology has been innovative and unusually effective in securing active and enthusiastic participation • Barcelona • Copenhagen • Rotterdam • Sofia • Frankfurt

8. What did we find? • DOMICE was an ambitious project • case management is a difficult subject to study; there is no agreed definition of it • in some shape of form, it is universal; it is the “core business process” • it accounts for substantial expenditure • arrangements vary enormously, within and between jurisdictions; it is not easy to understand them without some understanding of each historical, cultural and legal context

9. What did we find? • Common themes are: • the design of case management is piecemeal and fragmented; nowhere is it designed as a continuous process from start to end of the correctional system • an appetite for competition is driving this further; multiple providers tend to mean multiple assessments, multiple records and different cultures • the dominant model in custody is team-based; in non-custodial settings it is an individual based one, focussed around an individual Case Manager; each has its strengths and weaknesses • aims are not always clear, but there is a shift in focus from rehabilitation toward public protection • case management is becoming increasingly technical and technological • there is little research about it about how to design and do it well, or about how it is actually done, or how much it costs and how to deliver the best value • case management staff are well educated, resourceful and committed • in most places they are under-resourced, even by countries’ own standards • quality assurance is weak; it remains a largely private activity • it is parochial/local in its focus, with little international understanding or learning

10. What are the implications of this? Scarce resources are being wasted because there is insufficient attention paid in correctional systems to understanding, designingand deliveringcase management/ work with people who have offended There is a healthy appetite for international learning which is not yet being fully utilised

11. What do we recommend? • MAINTAIN THE FOCUS • DOMICE has created momentum; the Focus Groups have created a learning network; the website is a knowledge base. Action should be taken to sustain these resources, to support sharing, exchange, development & research: • – impact & cost: structures, partners, supporting desistence, public protection • WHOLE-SYSTEM INTEGRATION • Commissioners/managers of correctional systems should give more attention to • ensuring the integration of processes across the whole of the correctional system • especially prisoner resettlement, links with other agencies (integration, public safety) • ensuring continuity of approach and where possible of a key relationship • BETTER QUALITY ASSURANCE • The providers of case management should work with managers or commissioners to design & implement comprehensive programmes of quality assurance & development • A EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE • The training or induction of all of those involved in case management should include a European perspective, to support learning & Framework Decision implementation

12. Thank you for your attention! Steve.pitts@noms.gsi.gov.uk With acknowledgement of the contribution of the DOMICE subject experts - Tony Grapes and Jo Chilvers And on behalf of the DOMICE Project Board and Partners