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Types of support while on a community sentence

The support you get while on a community sentence is intended to help with problems that led to you commit crime in the first place. It’s also to stop you committing more crime in the future.

Support and treatment could be to help with:

• any addictions you have - like drugs
• a mental health condition
• problems with your behaviour - for example, if you’re often violent
• understanding how your behaviour affects other people
• getting new skills and qualifications - for example, help in getting a job

Getting support like this is sometimes called ‘rehabilitation’.

Completing treatment or training

If you’re sent on a treatment and training programme as part of a community sentence, you have to complete it. If not, you could be sent back to court. If this happens, your punishment could increase.

You also have to go on any courses that the court decides.

Drug and alcohol treatment

A court can order you to have drug or alcohol treatment, with your agreement. This is to help you get over any addictions and dependencies (something you rely on).

Normally you will have to complete a certain number of weeks’ (or months’) treatment before your sentence can end.

Depending on the treatment, it could involve:

• counselling sessions - where you get support from a medical professional
• drug testing - to check you’re not taking drugs
• treatment to help you get off drugs or alcohol

Mental health treatment

A court can order you to have mental health treatment, with your agreement, if this is a reason why you committed the offence.

The treatment is handled by a doctor or a psychologist. Depending on the treatment, it might mean you have a series of appointments, or it might mean you go into hospital.

Education and job training

A court can order you to improve your education and learning skills – for example, to increase the chance of you getting a job.

This can include:

• learning to read and write better
• solving problems
• writing a good job application
• learning interview skills

An education or training expert can:

• talk to you about jobs you have had in the past
• what skills you have
• help you get on an educational or training course

Classes are in groups or on a ‘one to one’ basis. Classes normally last several weeks depending on your needs and how classes are run in the area.

When you complete a course you are given a certificate that may improve your chances of getting a job.

Programmes to do with your behaviour

A court can order you to take an ‘accredited programme’. These aim to:

• make you think about the things that got you into trouble in the first place
• deal with difficult situations
• change your behavior for the better

Most of these programmes take place in a group.

Programmes include:

• anger management courses - if you sometimes find it hard to ‘keep in control’
• thinking skills - a course that teaches you to stop and think before doing something
• drink-impaired drivers' programme - a course that helps you see the results of your actions (and how to deal with alcohol)

Most courses are normally 20 sessions each.