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How your offender manager can help you

Your offender manager helps you complete your sentence and get you away from crime. They can help you:

• identify problems in your life and help you get over them
• keep to the rules that have been set as part of your sentence
• stay out of trouble

This could mean helping you to:

• complete an education or training course
• get treatment for any addictions you have - like drug use
• get help with any problems with your behaviour

Having meetings with your offender manager

If you have a community sentence, or are released from prison under licence or parole, you may have to meet regularly with an offender manager. This is known as ‘supervision’.

It’s very important that you go to these meetings.

Meetings will normally be at your local probation office.

What happens at meetings

At the first meeting your offender manager should explain:

• the terms (rules) of your probation
• the dates and times of meetings
• any appointments you must go to - like a training course or treatment
• the chance you have to change your life for the better
• what happens if you don’t do what you are asked

Your sentence plan

Your offender manager asks you to read and agree to a 'sentence plan'. This states the rules you must stick to while on probation - and your responsibilities.

Your progress will be reviewed at later meetings with your offender manager.

Your responsibilities while on probation

Whether it’s a meeting with your offender manager or an appointment, it is important that you:

• listen carefully to what your offender manager says and do what they ask
• arrive for meetings or appointments on time
• do not arrive at meetings or appointments drunk or after taking drugs
• show respect to offender manager and other people you meet during your sentence
• let your offender manager visit you at home if they need to

You must tell your offender manager straight away if you plan to change your address or phone number.

You must also tell your offender manager if you’re having any problems sticking to the rules of your order or licence.

If you miss a meeting or appointment

If you miss a meeting or appointment you must get in touch with your offender manager and tell them why you missed it. You also need proof - like a doctor’s note or a letter from your employer.

If you break the rules during your probation period

You could go back to court (or prison) if you break any rules. For example, if you:

• do something your sentence bans you from doing
• commit another crime
• miss meetings and appointments
• behave in an aggressive, racist or other unacceptable way at a meeting or appointment

• What happens if you break the terms of your probation

What your offender manager must do

If you have regular meetings with your offender manager, you have a right to:

• be seen on time
• have things explained in a way you understand
• have a say in some parts of your sentence plan
• be treated with respect
• be allowed to attend religious or other important events when you give your offender manager advance notice