The rehabilitation of offenders is an important element of the criminal justice system. The probation and welfare service of my Department, through its work in the community and in the prisons, contributes in a significant way to this process. The probation and welfare service mission is to foster public safety and promote the common good by advancing the recognition and use of community based sanctions thereby reducing the level of reoffending.
These community sanctions enable probation staff to assist offenders address their criminal behaviour directly and in a way that challenges them to respond, making them aware of the options open to them and supporting them in pursuing a crime free way of life.
The probation and welfare service has developed training workshops, resource centres and probation residences to buttress and support the process of supervision in the community. This enables viable programmes to be put in place for offenders who might not otherwise be manageable in the community and extends the range of choice for courts.
Furthermore, programmes such as intensive probation supervision, court alcohol education programmes, developmental probation projects, specialised remedial projects and youth development programmes all have an important rehabilitative focus.
The ultimate aim of the Prisons Service is to develop and put in place a wide range of rehabilitative measures which will be made available to all prisoners.