Female Out of Court Diversionary Scheme

We are delivering a new female Out of Court Diversionary scheme in partnership with Dorset Police and PCC. The scheme works with women who are classified as vulnerably and are at the point of arrest of committing a crime

for the first time or
have previous criminal record but have not offended in the past 2 years.

The women are given a conditional caution and opportunity to work with us rather than their offence progressing to court. Vulnerabilities include mental health problems, women living in coercive or controlling relationships, domestic violence, and committing petty crime to support their family. Women will meet with our specialist worker once a week for 4-6 weeks and are then offered volunteer support with any on-going problems.

The scheme launched in April 2019 and offers support for up to 100 women per year.

The pilot scheme supported 84 women with 0 being reconvicted during the first year. The scheme has been shortlisted for a Howard League Community Award.

You can read about the results from the pilot scheme here.

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Life Works is a partnership with Parkstone United Reformed Church offering basic skills training, volunteer opportunities and work experience to vulnerable people including, but not limited to, ex-offenders and people suffering from mental health or addiction problems. Support to overcome barriers to work and build self-esteem is also provided.
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Our volunteers come from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds, faiths and ages. Each has their own reason for volunteering including a chance to give back and support those less fortunate, to share my life experience and skills, to make a difference, to gain skills or experience to enable students to progress to a career in support or criminal justice services, a chance to expand their horizons and meet new people or to help us fundraise to keep the work going.
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Our vision is to build stronger and safer local communities by providing person centred support for offenders or those who are at risk of offending, reducing reoffending and increasing life chances. 46% of all prisoners will re-offend within a year of release. For those serving short custodial sentences and young offenders this raises to over 80%.
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We offer mentoring and practical support for those who are returning to live in Dorset, and Hampshire. Staff will visit people in prison to assess their needs around housing, education training and employment, finance and debt, mental and physical health, substance misuse, families and children as well as attitudes, thinking and behaviour. The staff will then co-produce an action plan for release with the client.
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