§ Mr. LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the more effective treatment of sexual offenders serving prison sentences.
§ Mrs. RumboldMy right hon. Friend announced on 7 June that, from the autumn of 1991, the prison service will be progressively introducing structured programmes for sex offenders in prison. The main features of the strategy are
the holding of sex offenders in fewer prisons to facilitate consistency of approach in running treatment programmes, to make cost effective use of resources and skills, and to provide a safe and supportive environment.treatment programmes are to be based on admission of offences, challenging attitudes and tackling offending behaviour. They must be practical, deliverable and sustainable and be properly evaluated.priority for treatment will be given to those who are likely to represent the greatest risk to the community on release.assessment will be introduced following conviction and sentence to determine which prisoners are most in need of treatment. This will take into account an inmate's previous convictions, evidence of inadequacy or addiction, evidence of sexual deviancy etc, and also reflect his behaviour during the assessment period when he will undergo psychological tests, have individual counselling and participate in group work.two main treatment programmes will be available in the prison service. A core programme, which does not require significant specialist resources, will tackle offenders' distorted beliefs about relationships, enhance their awareness of the effect of sexual offences on the victim, and seek to get inmates to take responsibility for and face up to the consequences of their own offending behaviour.The programme will also get inmates to develop relapse prevention strategies, identifying the nature of their offence cycles and how high risk situations can be avoided. The extended programme, for those who represent the greatest risk, will be run at establishments with appropriate specialist resources. This will, in addition, tackle problems of deviant arousal, inter-personal relationships, communications skills, anger and stress management, substance abuse, etc.
Our intention is to have the programme running in up to 20 establishments during the course of 1992. These are likely to comprise Albany, Dartmoor, Full Sutton, Maidstone, Wakefield, Wandsworth, Littlehey, Channings Wood, Featherstone, Risley, Usk, Wayland, Whatton, Grendon, Wormwood Scrubs and Swinfen Hall, and possibly also Aylesbury, Feltham and New Hall or Styal.