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Offender assessments 'too uneven' Offender assessments 'too uneven'
(about 2 hours later)
The risks posed by violent offenders across Scotland are often not assessed properly, a new report has said.The risks posed by violent offenders across Scotland are often not assessed properly, a new report has said.
A four-year Social Work Inspection Agency study examined reports prepared for the courts to determine the risk to the community posed by offenders.A four-year Social Work Inspection Agency study examined reports prepared for the courts to determine the risk to the community posed by offenders.
The documents by social workers help guide sheriffs and judges on what sentences to hand down to criminals.The documents by social workers help guide sheriffs and judges on what sentences to hand down to criminals.
Inspectors found the risk analysis in social inquiry reports on serious offenders was "poor" and "uneven".Inspectors found the risk analysis in social inquiry reports on serious offenders was "poor" and "uneven".
Training on risk assessment was often of a low standard and some staff were carrying out the job without having completed the necessary training at all, according to the SWIA report.Training on risk assessment was often of a low standard and some staff were carrying out the job without having completed the necessary training at all, according to the SWIA report.
The report said: "The overall standard of court reports, home background reports and related risk assessments was not good enough.The report said: "The overall standard of court reports, home background reports and related risk assessments was not good enough.
The Scottish Government, community justice authorities and local authorities should give more priority to improving services for serious violent offenders SWIA reportThe Scottish Government, community justice authorities and local authorities should give more priority to improving services for serious violent offenders SWIA report
"Too few home background report authors provided a sound assessment of the possible risks to the community arising from the offender's release.""Too few home background report authors provided a sound assessment of the possible risks to the community arising from the offender's release."
The overall standard of social inquiry reports was also criticised.The overall standard of social inquiry reports was also criticised.
The SWIA said that out of more than 1,700 social inquiry reports, less than 40% were of "wholly acceptable" standard.The SWIA said that out of more than 1,700 social inquiry reports, less than 40% were of "wholly acceptable" standard.
Those prepared by social workers in Fife rated highly but in Aberdeen City just 10% of the sample was classed as "good".Those prepared by social workers in Fife rated highly but in Aberdeen City just 10% of the sample was classed as "good".
The inspection of Scotland's 32 local authorities from 2003 to 2007 also looked at the standard of supervision of offenders on probation, parole and community service.The inspection of Scotland's 32 local authorities from 2003 to 2007 also looked at the standard of supervision of offenders on probation, parole and community service.
Inspectors praised work carried out with sex offenders but said violent offenders did not always receive adequate supervision.Inspectors praised work carried out with sex offenders but said violent offenders did not always receive adequate supervision.
The report said: "A high proportion (73%) of serious violent offenders had action plans for the first three months of supervision.The report said: "A high proportion (73%) of serious violent offenders had action plans for the first three months of supervision.
'Risk management' 'Risk assessment'
"However, there were weaknesses in the quality of subsequent supervision of these offenders.""However, there were weaknesses in the quality of subsequent supervision of these offenders."
The report added: "The Scottish Government, community justice authorities and local authorities should give more priority to improving services for serious violent offenders.The report added: "The Scottish Government, community justice authorities and local authorities should give more priority to improving services for serious violent offenders.
"This means better risk assessment and risk management and more programmes that require offenders to address their violent behaviour.""This means better risk assessment and risk management and more programmes that require offenders to address their violent behaviour."
Alexis Jay, the SWIA's chief inspector, said there had been an improvement since the start of the inspection programme but there remained a wide variation in performance across the country.Alexis Jay, the SWIA's chief inspector, said there had been an improvement since the start of the inspection programme but there remained a wide variation in performance across the country.
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities welcomed the report and said it hoped it would improve criminal justice social work.
The inspections found a significant amount of high quality work is being delivered but we acknowledge that there are issues of a lack of consistency across the country Scottish Government spokesman
A spokesman said: "Day in, day out, criminal justice social workers are playing a vital part in keeping our communities safe and in supporting the full range of minor to serious offenders to confront their behaviour, and just as importantly, to become productive members of their communities.
"Across Scotland, we're rightly seeing a national policy shift from prisons to community-based sentences wherever appropriate and this report highlights that strategy, resourcing, infrastructure and provision need to support that change if criminal justice social work services aren't to burst at the seams."
He added: "Resources need to follow the policy shift from the bricks and mortar of prisons to services in the community so that the excellent services which this report highlights are available to sex offenders are equally available to all other offenders.
"Anything less and we'll just be tinkering at the edges."
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The inspections found a significant amount of high quality work is being delivered but we acknowledge that there are issues of a lack of consistency across the country.A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The inspections found a significant amount of high quality work is being delivered but we acknowledge that there are issues of a lack of consistency across the country.
"A range of initiatives are currently under way or planned which are designed to build on the progress made to date."A range of initiatives are currently under way or planned which are designed to build on the progress made to date.
"We recognise the essential role played by social work professionals and the justice secretary will address many of them at the Association of Directors of Social Work conference on Friday.""We recognise the essential role played by social work professionals and the justice secretary will address many of them at the Association of Directors of Social Work conference on Friday."