A groupwork programme for offenders with a pattern of general offending and impulsive thinkers. It confronts, challenges and changes thoughts, attitudes and values that cause offending.
Think First can form part of a Community Order or a post-release prison licence.
Programme aims
Think First is designed to:
- Focus on skills to change behaviour, including problem-solving, self-management and social skills
- Increase public protection
- Challenge offenders to accept responsibility for their crime and its consequence.
Who is suitable?
Persistent offenders who:
- Are medium to high risk
- Are impulsive and/or rigid thinkers
- Do not think through the consequences of their actions
- Fail to consider the effects of their behaviour on victims or others
Think First is not suitable for:
- Sex offenders
- Domestic violence perpetrators
- Other serious violent or racially motivated violent offenders
- Drink drivers who do not commit other offences
What does the programme involve?
- Two pre-groupwork sessions with the offender
- 22 weekly groupwork sessions (each two and half hours)
- Six individual post-groupwork sessions
- Monitoring and evaluation.
Thinking Skills Programme
In 2010 the Think First programme will be replaced with the Thinking Skills Programme. Information is provided in the Thinking Skills Programme leaflet found below:
