The Course for Drink Drive Offenders (CDDO)
The Course for Drink Drive Offenders reflects PBNI’s commitment to public protection through offender rehabilitation initiatives and demonstrates successful partnership working between ourselves, DOE, the PSNI traffic branch and Victims’ organisations – the Campaign against Drinking and Driving (CADD), and the Road Trauma Support Group, to deliver the course. In 2003, amongst the 358 people who participated in the 9 session programme there was a 96% successful completion rate.
The Course is offered to people who have been convicted of various drink drive related offences* and a Magistrate has the option of offering an offender a place on a Course.
If the Offender successfully completes the 9 session programme their period of disqualification from driving can be reduced by up to 25%. The Course for Drink Drive Offenders is available in Belfast, Londonderry, Ballymena, Armagh, Antrim and Omagh.
Drink Driving is one of the main causes of road traffic casualties in Northern Ireland. The Course for Drink Drive Offenders has the potential to change the attitudes and behaviours of drivers convicted of drinking and driving and make a valuable contribution to reducing the numbers of people killed and seriously injured on our roads.
Winnie Magee, founder member of CADD said; “We were delighted to be asked to be involved by the Probation Board. Because we tell a personal story we bring home the consequences of drinking and driving to the offender, that a seemingly innocent decision may take someone from their family. If everybody in this country separated the activity of drinking from the activity of driving completely it could save approximately 50 lives every year.”
*
- Driving or being in charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs
- Driving or being in charge of a vehicle having consumed excess alcohol
- Failing to provide a specimen of breath, blood or urine.
In addition, the period of disqualification from driving handed down by the Magistrate must not be less than 12 months, the offender must be aged 17 or over, a place on the programme must be available, and the offender must agree to take part.
Men Overcoming Domestic Violence (MODV)
Since 1997 the Probation Board has delivered the Men Overcoming Domestic Violence (MODV) Programme for convicted adult perpetrators of domestic violence. The aim of this 6 month intensive intervention programme is to realise change in participants’ negative behaviours by increasing their understanding and focusing on the consequences of their acts of violence. The programme further provides the participant with information on how to change abusive behaviour by exploring non-controlling and non-violent ways of relating to women.
Domestic Violence accounts for 25% of all violent crime in the UK, however less than 35% of domestic violence is reported. It is estimated that 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime.
MODV is delivered in partnership with Social Services and Women’s Aid, who assist in the assessment of the male participants before, during and after completion of the programme. Women’s Aid also offer support to partners where appropriate.
The programme is delivered in Belfast, Ballymena and Londonderry.
The programme has been independently evaluated by the University of Ulster at Magee College, Londonderry. The research demonstrated that the programme has a significant positive impact on the attitudes of perpetrators which support violence towards women. Monitoring and supervision of individuals is often continued post completion of the programme as PBNI recognises that offender rehabilitation is a long-term process.
For more information on the above projects please call PBNI on 028 90262400 or use the contact us LINK TO function on this website.