I Think First

Programme aims:

• To teach problem-solving skills and apply these skills to offending behaviour, in order to help offenders stop offending

Who is suitable?

Offenders, both men and women, who:

• pose a medium to high risk of re-offending
• are impulsive and/or rigid thinkers
• do not think through the consequences of their actions
• fail to consider the effects of their behaviour on victims or others
• are assessed as suitable in a court ordered report prior to sentence or by the offender manager prior to release on licence

Who is not suitable?

• People whose offending is not linked to poor cognitive skills
• Offenders with serious mental health problems
• Offenders who cannot learn in a group setting
• Current sex offenders
• Domestic violence offenders

The programme involves:

• Four pre-programme sessions, both one-to-one and in a group
• 22 group sessions of between two and two-and-a-half hours. These focus on skills to change behaviour such problem-solving, anti-social attitudes, tackling pressures to offend, victim awareness, moral reasoning, self-management and social interaction. These are then applied to aspects of offending and situations in which they occur.
• Seven post-programme sessions on an individual basis