15 - The Offender Management Model

Question 1

The Offender Management Model

Answer 1

The PC identifies that the TIER refers to the level of intervention & NOT as is commonly used as the category of offender.

The following is taken from Risk of Harm Guidance & training resources 2009

Tier 1 - Society may simply want to reflect its disapproval through punishment.

Tier 2 - The offender may need some help but often this is through advocacy and referral.

Tier 3 - The need is for change programmes. For example, around damaging attitudes and beliefs, through accredited programmes and/or treatment for drug and alcohol programmes.

Tier 4 - The need is for additional control to protect the public from offenders who pose the highest risk of serious harm or of damage through prolific offending.

It is important to remember that a decision about the level of risk does not of itself help to reduce that risk. It should inform other decisions that do help to reduce the risk including all those above. A decision about level should be informed by a comprehensive risk assessment which should lead to risk management plans appropriate to the risk factors identified.

Decisions about level also are not fixed and must always be subject to review if new information emerges.

Risk assessment is a continuous process and those managing even low risk cases must seek and be alert to new information record accurately and communicate with others.