How we manage offenders

Reparation

When an offender has to face their victim or give back to their local community, it can help to make them see the cost of their crimes in a whole new light.

A judge or magistrate can require an offender to undertake a certain period of unpaid work as a part of their community sentence (new window). The main purpose of unpaid work is to punish the offender while making sure they pay something back  to the community. Offenders work a specified number of hours between 40 and 300 which should normally be completed within 12 months.

The number of hours an offender works depends on the seriousness of the offence and is determined by the magistrates or judge.

What skills do they learn?

The work offenders are given to do is demanding and often requires them to learn new skills. The work is intended to benefit other people and the community. All offender work groups have an employed supervisor in charge and groups are never left unsupervised.

Unpaid work is designed to teach the offender pro-social attitudes and behaviours. The skills and experience gained by an offender carrying out unpaid work can lead to them finding paid employment.