What is the Midlands Threshold Dialogue?
Given the success of the Bournemouth Threshold Dialogue (which was initiated in 2007 and based on what we learnt from the PPO Threshold Dialogue Pilot which ran between 2004 and 2007), Prison Dialogue is looking for a location in the Midlands to replicate a similar venture in 2009. An appraisal is currently taking place to determine three favourable options, from which to choose one new location. See the Appraisal Criteria page for details of this selection process.
The PPO Pilot was funded by the Dorset Criminal Justice Board and run by Prison Dialogue at HMP Dorchester and in Boscombe. It targeted PPOs and other high repeat offenders and had the full support and involvement of Probation, prison staff, the drug action teams and the police. This pilot received the DCJB Partnership Award in 2007 for bringing together the various criminal justice agencies so effectively. It was evaluated by the University of Coventry and the Completion Report to the DCJB encouraged taking this work forward with the inclusion of HMP Guys Marsh. This was done under the name Bournemouth Threshold Dialogue.
The Bournemouth Threshold Dialogue is designed to engage every prisoner who is released into Bournemouth from HMP Dorchester and HMP Guys Marsh (the two main release prisons for the city). Dialogue sessions have begun in HMP Dorchester and Boscombe, and it is anticipated they will start later in 2008 in Guys Marsh. The Threshold is the prison gate, and offenders are recruited into prison dialogue sessions, then encouraged to continue to meet on their release in community dialogues. Dialogue sessions are on-the-level enquiries into all aspects of resettlement and involve offenders, prison staff, probation, police, drug action team members and the local authority with facilitation provided by Prison Dialogue. The Bournemouth Threshold Dialogue acts in service of the citizens of Bournemouth, and there is a register of Bournemouth Offenders compiled by the prisons and held and maintained by the police who, along with the other agencies, are keen to get to know and understand offenders who fall under their responsibility.
Should the Threshold Dialogue be replicated in an effective way in the Midlands, then a strong case could be formulated for a national network of Threshold Dialogues.
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