A pioneering justice scheme which enables the judiciary to sentence offenders within the community under supervision has been hailed by Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan as an alternative to short prison sentences.
Enhanced combination orders (ECOs) provide an intensive community-based sentence with a focus on rehabilitation, reparation and support in an attempt to break the cycle of reoffending and keep communities safer.
The latest reoffending statistics published by the Department of Justice show that reoffending rates of people on ECOs are down by nearly 4% for the 2019/20 cohort compared with 2018/19.
Initially piloted in the Ards and Armagh/South Down court divisions, the ECO scheme is also now operating in the north west court areas.
From its inception there have been 867 ECOs imposed on 804 people.
Dame Siobhan said: “The aim of the enhanced combination order is to bring together elements of community supervision such as community service, victim engagement and judicial oversight.
“Having an option such as the enhanced combination order as an alternative to a prison sentence of 12 months or less provides an opportunity for intensive work to be carried out which helps prevent the individual coming before the courts in the future.”
Probation Board NI chief executive Amanda Stewart said: “It involves interventions by probation staff to address criminogenic needs and participants are also offered assessments by psychologists at PBNI.
“By then working with Barnardo’s and restorative justice organisations, problems such as addiction, mental health, family, and unemployment can be addressed.
“This order has prevented reoffending by rehabilitating people and by reducing the number of victims of repeat offending.
“This intensive approach to tackling the root causes of offending alongside intensive psychological support is making a real difference to people’s lives.”
Victim Support NI’s chief executive Janice Bunting said: “The latest reoffending statistics are welcome and I commend probation for the development of the enhanced combination order which has resulted in fewer victims of crime.
“The restorative element of this order is critical in helping give victims a voice and enabling them to explain the impact the crime has had.”
Ronnie Armour, director general of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, said: “Improving public safety by reducing the risk of offending by supporting and challenging people in our care to change is at the core of our work.
“At a time when the prison population is increasing to levels not seen in many years, we welcome alternatives to short prison sentences such as the ECO which can play an important role in diverting people away from custody.”
