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| Offender assessments 'too uneven' | Offender assessments 'too uneven' |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| The risks posed by violent offenders across Scotland are often not assessed properly, a new report has said. | The risks posed by violent offenders across Scotland are often not assessed properly, a new report has said. |
| A four-year Social Work Inspection Agency study examined reports prepared for the courts to determine the risk to the community posed by offenders. | A four-year Social Work Inspection Agency study examined reports prepared for the courts to determine the risk to the community posed by offenders. |
| The documents by social workers help guide sheriffs and judges on what sentences to hand down to criminals. | The documents by social workers help guide sheriffs and judges on what sentences to hand down to criminals. |
| Inspectors found the risk analysis in social inquiry reports on serious offenders was "poor" and "uneven". | Inspectors found the risk analysis in social inquiry reports on serious offenders was "poor" and "uneven". |
| Training on risk assessment was often of a low standard and some staff were carrying out the job without having completed the necessary training at all, according to the SWIA report. | Training on risk assessment was often of a low standard and some staff were carrying out the job without having completed the necessary training at all, according to the SWIA report. |
| The report said: "The overall standard of court reports, home background reports and related risk assessments was not good enough. | The report said: "The overall standard of court reports, home background reports and related risk assessments was not good enough. |
| The Scottish Government, community justice authorities and local authorities should give more priority to improving services for serious violent offenders SWIA report | The Scottish Government, community justice authorities and local authorities should give more priority to improving services for serious violent offenders SWIA report |
| "Too few home background report authors provided a sound assessment of the possible risks to the community arising from the offender's release." | "Too few home background report authors provided a sound assessment of the possible risks to the community arising from the offender's release." |
| The overall standard of social inquiry reports was also criticised. | The overall standard of social inquiry reports was also criticised. |
| The SWIA said that out of more than 1,700 social inquiry reports, less than 40% were of "wholly acceptable" standard. | The SWIA said that out of more than 1,700 social inquiry reports, less than 40% were of "wholly acceptable" standard. |
| Those prepared by social workers in Fife rated highly but in Aberdeen City just 10% of the sample was classed as "good". | Those prepared by social workers in Fife rated highly but in Aberdeen City just 10% of the sample was classed as "good". |
| The inspection of Scotland's 32 local authorities from 2003 to 2007 also looked at the standard of supervision of offenders on probation, parole and community service. | The inspection of Scotland's 32 local authorities from 2003 to 2007 also looked at the standard of supervision of offenders on probation, parole and community service. |
| Inspectors praised work carried out with sex offenders but said violent offenders did not always receive adequate supervision. | Inspectors praised work carried out with sex offenders but said violent offenders did not always receive adequate supervision. |
| The report said: "A high proportion (73%) of serious violent offenders had action plans for the first three months of supervision. | The report said: "A high proportion (73%) of serious violent offenders had action plans for the first three months of supervision. |
| 'Risk management' | 'Risk management' |
| "However, there were weaknesses in the quality of subsequent supervision of these offenders." | "However, there were weaknesses in the quality of subsequent supervision of these offenders." |
| The report added: "The Scottish Government, community justice authorities and local authorities should give more priority to improving services for serious violent offenders. | The report added: "The Scottish Government, community justice authorities and local authorities should give more priority to improving services for serious violent offenders. |
| "This means better risk assessment and risk management and more programmes that require offenders to address their violent behaviour." | "This means better risk assessment and risk management and more programmes that require offenders to address their violent behaviour." |
| Alexis Jay, the SWIA's chief inspector, said there had been an improvement since the start of the inspection programme but there remained a wide variation in performance across the country. | Alexis Jay, the SWIA's chief inspector, said there had been an improvement since the start of the inspection programme but there remained a wide variation in performance across the country. |
| A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The inspections found a significant amount of high quality work is being delivered but we acknowledge that there are issues of a lack of consistency across the country. | A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The inspections found a significant amount of high quality work is being delivered but we acknowledge that there are issues of a lack of consistency across the country. |
| "A range of initiatives are currently under way or planned which are designed to build on the progress made to date. | "A range of initiatives are currently under way or planned which are designed to build on the progress made to date. |
| "We recognise the essential role played by social work professionals and the justice secretary will address many of them at the Association of Directors of Social Work conference on Friday." |