Reducing Reoffending Children and Families Pathway

In 2004, the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) set out seven pathways in their National Reducing Re-offending Action Plan to provide a framework for working with offenders and providing services in relation to reducing reoffending. One of these pathways was Children and Families, along with Accommodation, Education, Training and Employment, Health, Drugs and Alcohol, Finance, Benefit and Debt, and Attitudes, Thinking and Behaviour. The Children and Families pathway recognises the impact that maintaining contact and family ties can have on reoffending. Furthermore, the National Reducing Re-offending Action Plan also acknowledges the effect of offending behaviour on children; including the increased likelihood of mental ill health, problems at school and intergenerational offending. A coordinated and strategic approach was recommended for the Children and Families pathway in the National Reducing Re-offending Action Plan, suggesting key action areas that should acted on at local, regional and national levels. For example identification of families of offenders, the development of materials suitable for children regarding prison visits, and the improvement of and increase in parenting and family education for offenders. The later published National Reducing Re-offending Delivery Plan (2009) detailed the progress made in these key action areas. Although the pathways are no longer officially used by NOMS, they are often referred to and utilised by criminal justice and other agencies. For example, some prisons have a 'champion' for each of the pathways. The pathways are also frequently referred to in terms of resettlement and rehabilitation of offenders.