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