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Focus is aimed at people in Youth Units. It will help you look at why you offend, and help you develop skills to stop you offending in the future by:

  • facing up to your offending
     
  • understanding yourself better
     
  • learning how to stop offending
     
  • learning how to cope with uncomfortable feelings
     
  • practicing using skills to get on better with others and create a positive future for yourself.

As part of a group, you’ll meet regularly with a Corrections programme facilitator who is trained in helping people create a crime-free future for themselves.

Who is it for?

Focus is aimed at sentenced male prisoners, or those convicted but awaiting sentence, in Youth Units who are at medium risk of re-offending.

Can I do a Focus programme?

Your sentence planner will tell you if you are suitable for Focus or if another programme may be more suitable.

How long does it take?

Focus has four levels delivered as a package over 9-12 months.

Motivation, Basic, and Advanced levels are run over 10-12 weeks with sessions run between 2-4 time per week, each session is 1.5 hours. Maintenance level is offered for at least one hour a week after you have finished the Advanced Focus. You must pass or finish each level before you can start the next level.

What will I have to do?

You will meet with the programme facilitator(s) in a group of up to eight participants. In the sessions you will be asked to talk about your offending – about what happens, what you are getting out of it, and what it is costing you and your family.

The programme will help you learn to cope in difficult situations, how to solve problems and resolve conflict in positive ways. It will also help you learn relationship skills and how to manage your feelings and actions so you don’t offend again.

The programme facilitator will work with you to set your goals for making positive changes in the way you think and behave. You’ll also learn how you can stay crime-free.

Who else is involved?

You may wish to tell people who are important to you – your family, friends or the people you work for and with – that you are doing this programme. They may be able to support you in creating a positive crime-free future.

For more information?

Talk to your sentence planner for more information.


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