3822_Think First A4.
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Think First
Information for Sentencers
What is Think First?
Think First is a General Offending
Groupwork Programme – one of several
independently accredited programmes
for use in England & Wales.
Accredited Offending Behaviour
programmes are part of the Probation
Service’s What Works initiative, which
aims to reduce general reconviction
rates by providing types of supervision
for offenders which are based on
research and sound evidence. These
approaches or ‘programmes’ are
effective in changing the way
offenders think and behave.
Think First consists of:
• 22 intensive groupwork sessions
• 4 structured pre-group sessions and
• up to 6 post-programme sessions.
Who is it for?
Think First is aimed at offenders
within the medium /high risk of
reconviction group because available
evidence indicates that it is most
effective with these groups.
Programme content
Think First is a cognitive skills
programme, based on the premise
that thinking is the basis of all
behaviour, so in order to affect
or change criminal behaviour the
underlying thoughts and attitudes
of offenders must be addressed.
Research shows that many offenders
have not acquired the skills of
thinking in certain areas such as
problem solving and critical reasoning.
Offenders may not always see things
from other people’s points of view
and can also have a poorly developed
sense of values.
NPD/044/2002
The ‘Think First’ programme aims
to tackle:
• Lack of problem solving skills –
Often offenders do not recognise
or anticipate problems or fail to
consider alternative forms of
action. This programme can
challenge these rigid thought
processes. The programme
approaches problem solving as a
skill which everyone can learn and
which can be applied to different
situations. It enables offenders
to see how their behaviour often
works to their own disadvantage
in the long term, how it can harm
their families and the victims of
their crimes.
• Poor social skills – A large
proportion of offences either occur
in groups or are perpetrated by
groups acting together. Poor social
skills often result in inappropriate
behaviour which can be manifested
in aggression, violence or hostility.
The programme can teach the
offender how to counter or resist
pressure from others.
• Poor personal control –
Some offences appear to have
been committed on impulse.
When such offences are examined
carefully, it is often possible to
identify the thinking that allowed
someone to behave in such a way.
Think First can tackle these
problems and teach self-
management skills to enable
offenders to think about
things differently.
Diversity
The National Probation Service
recognises that women, minority
ethnic offenders, those with a
disability or other special needs may
have additional issues. These issues
will be fully addressed in order that
they derive maximum benefit from
Think First.
The programme is approved as an
additional requirement of a Community
Rehabilitation Order or a Community
Punishment and Rehabilitation Order in
accordance with the Powers of Criminal
Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000. Supervision
of the order will begin immediately and
commencement of the groupwork
programme will be with the first available
place following appearance in court.
Attendance at the full programme, which
includes the 22 groupwork sessions, four
pre-group sessions and up to six post-
programme sessions is monitored in
accordance with Home Office standards.
Any breach of attendance or conditions
will be dealt with appropriately and may
see the offender returned to court.
National Probation Directorate
National Probation Service
for England and Wales
This programme has been accredited by the
Correctional Services Accreditation Panel (CSAP)
for use in England and Wales (2000).