Identity Change, Spirituality and
Desistance from Crime
THE BELIEF IN CHANGE PROGRAMME
“Believing in Change makes Change possible”
Risley participant
The Belief in Change Programme
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A structured, one year reintegration programme for medium
and high risk offenders which is faith informed.
Test specification for this kind of integration
Accredited by Correctional Services Accreditation Panel
Pilots running since 2011 in HMP Channings Wood and HMP
Risley. Channings Pilot closed Summer 2013 as funding not
continued.
OVERVIEW
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A structured community within a prison.
Faith and Spirituality as part of the underpinning ethos.
Focus on positive reintegration back into the community
developing supportive links with faith communities, families,
formal mentors, statutory agencies.
Additional spiritual guidance, social events befriending and
mentoring.
Outcomes: Support network in the community and a Life Plan
All ‘manualised’. Delivered to specific standards with quality
enhancement tool and process.
However as a pilot allows for responsive development
Belief in Change Theoretical
Underpinning
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Theories drawn upon in design:
Risk and Need Principle
Desistance e.g. Pathways from offending, and
Strengths Based Reparative Model e.g. ‘Good Lives’
and Restorative Justice.
Narrative, Identity and Personal Transformation
Social Modelling and Moral Reasoning
Faith and Spiritual Model
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The Belief in Change
Programme Model
Positive
Prison &
outside
Community
living
Developing
positive
relationships
Developing
whole
life plan
Change
life story
& Identity
Managing
Risk
Faith Practice
to support
change
Building
self efficacy &
responsibility
Empirical Evidence
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The Belief in Change Programme is being designed drawing on empirical evidence
from:
What works evidence base currently used by Correctional Services Accreditation
Panel in their Accreditation Criteria.
Meta-and other studies demonstrating that faith and spiritual practice are linked
with lower levels of anti-social behaviour. (e.g.Johnson 2002)
Studies demonstrating faith can be an important factor in the successful outcomes
in substance and alcohol treatment. (e.g.Miller 2002)
Studies outlining critical factors of success for interventions with offenders.
(Gendreau 1999)
Social Exclusion Report (2002) indicating the needs of offenders.
Studies demonstrating that religiosity can reduce prison misconduct and increase
positive adjustment. (e.g.Clear 2002, Kerley 2005, Camp et al 2008)
BCP Approach
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The development of faith and spiritual affiliation can facilitate change.
To use an holistic approach to bring about change.
To provide an environment that challenges anti-social behaviour but incorporates
compassion and respect.
To provide an environment that encourages peer support and a sense of community.
To encourage participants to take responsibility for the aspects of their lives of which they
have control, to acknowledge the harm they have done or do to others and make
appropriate reparation.
To provide the opportunity to gain knowledge and learn skills that will help them in all
aspects of their lives.
To provide the opportunity for participants to build strong support networks that will help
them ‘stay on track’ once they have left the programme in prison.
To encourage community engagement with Offenders by using volunteers from faith and
community groups.
A structured programme cohesive with other prison activities and interventions.
Encourage participants to live constructive lives in custody and on release by working, self
improvement and ‘healthy’ use of leisure time.
A collaborative working approach between staff, volunteers and participants.
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Belief in Change Programme Target Group
Targeting:
 prolific career criminals, medium to high risk
general. So age 25 – 40, multiple types of
offences, OGRS + 50 (OGRS 2 41)
 Denial of index offence not an issue but must
acknowledge some anti-social behaviour.
 Currently adult males.
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Aims of the Belief in Change
Programme
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Offending Related Aims:
Reduce Reoffending
Participants take responsibility for their anti-social behaviour and understand the impact
on others.
Participants develop skills, which contribute to addressing and managing their risk of
reoffending.
Participants develop pro-social life goals that benefit themselves, their families and
communities
Holistic Aims:
Participants adjust the personal meaning to their lives, ensuring it is pro-social
Participants explore their faith and spirituality with potential for personal transformation.
To develop in participants, volunteers, and staff a sense of ‘community’ incorporating
service to others.
To bring social cohesion between participants from different Faiths.
Participants reintegrate into society successfully and pro- socially by development of
support networks in their own faith and wider community.
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Belief in Change Programme Faith &
Spiritual Model
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Participation in and service to community.
Prayer and contemplative meditation
Study of religious and spiritual teachings
Divine or Spiritual Living
Reflecting Days End
Forgiveness
Compassion Love and Empathy
Hope and Serenity
Discipline
Model
Referral
Evaluation of outcomes ESF
and Reconviction study via
NOMS
Release to the community
with ESF ongoing support,
community mentoring and
reintegration
Belief in Change
Community + enter ESF
Programme
6-12 months, with
programme, support and
other prison activities
Belief in Change Programme Methods
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Structured Life Skills Sessions (40 x 2 hour sessions)
Run as a community (participants, staff, volunteers)
Personal Coaching (16 x 1 hour individual sessions)
Journaling (daily, structured and unstructured)
Work, education and charity
Daily reflection time
Faith & Spiritual Study
Faith Fellowship Groups
Spiritual Advisors from Chaplaincy Team
Personal Stories and Public Commitments to Change
Mentoring and support from the wider community via volunteers.
Reintegration and Life Planning
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Belief in Change Community Activities
Daily Community Meetings
 Community Management Meetings
 Daily Peer Support Meetings
 Restoration Groups
 Community Activities
 Community Tasks
 Faith specific support groups
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External Volunteers
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Vital part of the programme delivery
Pool of volunteers need to be developed
Role of Reintegration Managers with support from Chaplaincy
Must be security cleared and prison awareness trained
Must be Belief in Change Programme Trained
Must be monitored (job specs, supervision, annual reviews)
Must be connection between prison and outside world
Managed by Belief in Change Manager and Project Manager
Role of Prison Staff
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Prison officers primarily custodial function but training in
aspects of the programme and part of Belief in Change
Community. Selected and monitored for suitability.
Sentence Planning staff involved in participant selection and
receive regular updates.
Chaplaincy provide additional faith specific support to
participants and help support building capacity of volunteer
base
Operational Managers there to ensure the programme can
run successfully within the environment.