National praise for county's scheme to reduce re-offending

Published July 29, 2010.

A scheme to reduce the number of young people going into the criminal justice system has won national recognition.

Durham County Council’s Pre Reprimand Disposal (PRD) programme was runner up in the Children and Young People category of the Howard League Community Programmes Award 2010.

The awards aim to increase public protection by recognising outstanding community programmes that help to reduce the seriousness and frequency of re-offending.

PRD has been developed by County Durham Youth Offending Service (CDYOS), which is part of the county council’s Children and Young People’s Services, and Durham Constabulary.

It aims to reduce the number of first time entrants to the youth justice system and re-offending levels.

Young people who enter the criminal justice system for minor offences risk limiting their prospects of getting a job.

The PRD programme, which is voluntary, is offered to young people who commit their first offence to stop them going down the criminal record route.  PRD helps identify issues which may lead to offending and offers support to the young people and their families.

Project leader, Gill Eshelby, Head of County Durham Youth Offending Service, said: “It is fantastic to be recognised in a national award.  The success of the PRD is due to the creativity and commitment of partners in County Durham to work together to reduce youth crime.  We have already reduced first time entrants to the system by over 70 per cent.  The PRD is not only preventing offending – it’s preventing re-offending too.”

Please see http://www.howardleague.org/community-programmes-conference/ for more information.

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