Hello,
A very frequent question… “You just work with the easy ones don’t you, that’s why your success rate is so high and reoffending rate so low?”
A good and pertinent question.
The simple answer is. Err no, we don’t!
This is a reasonable inquiry. However, it perhaps exposes a lack of understanding, which is currently a real problem for the criminal justice system.
Maybe as a society we just don’t want to look too closely at the CJS? Seeking to deal with offenders by punishment. Once categorised or ‘othered’ as criminal there is a tendency (maybe a comfort) to not really have to think about the problem. Push it over there, it’s dealt with.
LandWorks, on the other hand, does of course try to look at the problem.
At the very core of our ethos is seeing people for who they are today and trying to understand the lifestyle that led them into crime. To support people to develop a non-criminal identity.
Or, as I increasingly believe… to get back to the person you once were, or wanted to be, before a period of difficult, chaotic and damaging lifestyle choices took over.
So, back to the question… “Do you just select the easy ones?”
Last year we had 75 people referred to LandWorks, of which we offered 45 placements.
“Ah, so you do select the easy ones?”
Hmm, no it is more nuanced than that.
Where to start… to get into the CJS you really have to go some! There will be reasons and often many underlying explanations that led to criminal activity.
In my experience it is foolish to believe there are many, if any, ‘easy’ referrals. This assumption would suggest that you haven’t really understood what’s going on for an individual to get into the CJS.
Critically our referrals are identified by experienced probation officers who work with many different offenders, offences and risk levels. Most people in the system have offended several, if not many, times.
Potential trainees then arrive at LandWorks for an informal site visit and interview.
This carefully crafted process allows a potential LandWorks trainee the opportunity to almost self-select (do they sincerely want this opportunity?) and for us to establish if they really want change. Those who don’t, quickly realise that this is not for them. Interestingly often realising that they aren’t ready and don’t want to harm LandWorks and the people it helps, by messing up.
With many persistent offenders, occasionally, a small window of opportunity occurs. A moment when the motivation to change is high, but often short lived.
Part of our job is to read these fleeting glimpses of good intention and make the most of these critical moments, before the shutters come crashing down and the window is bolted shut until the next time.
“Chris mate my life was a mess, I needed to change, stop offending but needed help” Hugh (a prolific offender for 16 years).
So yes, there needs to be some sign that the time is right. But we don’t cherry pick and we can work with people who others might view as impossible. For LandWorks it doesn’t matter how difficult or not these people are, it is about their desire to change and wanting a better life.
Chris
29th August 2024