Rehabilitative Needs Descriptions

What OSA&E is

OSA&E reflects a general anti-social/pro-criminal attitude where engaging in illegal activity may be considered a “legitimate pathway” or an occupation. It may also reflect individuals who simply do not consider that the law applies to them. These offenders often have a strong sense of entitlement and an egocentric perception.

This need relates to the offender’s criminal history and patterns of behaviour, not just the current offence. It is only canvassed when undertaking the full pre-sentence report assessment interview.

When to identify OSA&E

OSA&E can be identified when:

• an offender’s decision to engage in the illegal activity is a deliberate and often pre-planned decision
• an individual is actively associated with organised crime (i.e. where offending is considered a business) and/or actively involved with gangs, or
• offending patterns reflect recidivist offending with little concern about legal consequences or court sentencing (i.e. court sentences have little impact with regards to changing OSA&E and subsequent offending behaviour).

Note: It could also incorporate lifestyle burglars, drug dealers, and recidivist driving offenders, including drunk drivers.

Programmes

Resources available to target OSA&E include the Department’s Medium and High Intensity Rehabilitation Programmes. Referral to these programmes is dependent on the risk profile of the offender.

Unhelpful lifestyle balance (ULB)

What ULB is

ULB refers to a situation where:

• an offender has a significant lack of purposeful, meaningful, or constructive structure in their daily routines, or
• an offender’s usual routines involve engaging in a number of negative, unhelpful, or illegal activities.

This need relates to the offender’s criminal history and patterns of behaviour, not just the current offence. It is only canvassed when undertaking the full pre-sentence report assessment interview.

When to identify this need

ULB is identified by looking at how an offender typically uses their time. It can be identified when:

• a lack of lifestyle balance increases an offender’s pre-disposition towards offending and places them at increased risk of engaging in illegal behaviours
• an offender’s usual routine does not involve using their time in a structured, purposeful way that is self-enhancing or positive for them, or
• an offender’s usual past-times involve engaging in negative, unhelpful or illegal activities.

Important: ULB should not be automatically identified just because an offender is unemployed or on a benefit.

Examples:

• An unemployed person who gets up at a normal time and engages in positive routines, such as exercise, gardening, actively seeking employment, attending their appointments, maintaining positive social connections, or engaging in volunteer work, would not be considered to have an unhelpful lifestyle balance despite being unemployed.
• An unemployed person who gets up when they wake up, engages in regular substance use, associates with other drug users, watches TV/DVDs or plays PlayStation/Xbox all day and does not seek employment would be considered to have an unhelpful lifestyle balance.

Programmes

Resources available to target ULB include the Department’s Medium and High Intensity Rehabilitation Programmes. Referral to these programmes is dependent on the risk profile of the offender.

Offending supportive associates (OSA)

What OSA is

OSA focuses on the social influence towards offending in general. The social influence towards committing offences can either be active (i.e. directly endorsed) or passive (i.e. not discouraged).

This need relates to the offender’s criminal history and patterns of behaviour, not just the current offence. It is only canvassed when undertaking the full pre-sentence report assessment interview.

When to identify this need

OSA should always be identified when offending involves a co-offender as this suggests that the offender’s associates are offence-supportive.

OSA can also be identified if the offender acknowledges regularly associating with individuals who are involved in illegal activities (e.g. gang members or associates involved with either using or selling illegal drugs).

Example: An offender’s cannabis-smoking mates who also assist with burglaries and/or the distribution of stolen property or drugs would be considered offending supportive associates.

Programmes

Resources available to target OSA include the Department’s Medium and High Intensity Rehabilitation Programmes. Referral to these programmes is dependent on the risk profile of the offender.