The Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) believes people have the capacity to change.
In order for that to happen those who have offended must take responsibility for their actions. They must also play an active part in the rehabilitation process. International and local research shows that when service users feel they are involved in how services are designed and delivered, they are more likely to be successfully rehabilitated and stop committing crimes.
To engage with those under Probation supervision a new approach was developed and a number of service user groups were formed.
Director of Operations Gillian Montgomery explains, “We set up a number of service user groups across Northern Ireland. These groups enable service users to give feedback about what has worked and importantly what hasn’t worked in assisting them to move away from crime. We want to use the knowledge and experience of those who have been through the criminal justice system to help ensure our services are the best they can be."
As well as setting up service user groups for those who are under Probation supervision, There is also a group for victims and survivors who are registered with our Victim Information Scheme. This is to help Probation understand the experience of all who use probation services and Probation will use this feedback to improve service delivery.
Probation believes there is a role for service users to educate others about the risk of becoming involved or further involved in criminality. As part of a new approach, service users set up a newsletter with information and resources on addiction and mental health that can help other people. The newsletter called ‘Connect’ also enables people to share stories about how they have changed their lives in the hope it will inspire others.
The service users, who are all part of the Probation's Service User Groups, designed the newsletter for other people on probation to provide them with information and support and give a first hand account of how they have changed their lives.
Read about the launch of the Connect magazine in 2022.
Read all the published issues in our publications section.