NCJ Number
209472
Journal
Probation Journal Volume: 50 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2003 Pages: 52-58
Date Published
March 2003
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The author discusses his experiences in developing intervention materials to be used in rehabilitative work with White offenders in Great Britain who have displayed aggressive racial prejudice against their victims ("racially motivated offenders").
Abstract
The author was assigned the task of composing a draft assessment and intervention materials for racially motivated offenders. This article describes the process by which he and his team determined who should be included in the rehabilitative program and how they would be identified with a risk-assessment instrument. Over the course of his assignment, the author tracked 114 individuals from their arrests and initial charges with racially aggravated offenses. He interviewed 52 offenders and was involved in the preparation of 46 presentence reports for both the adult and youth courts. In 36 of the interviews, the Racial Attitudes Initial Screening Tool was used. This consists of a series of 16 statements that relate to racial stereotypes and prejudices, with which the respondent either agrees or disagrees. The higher the score, the stronger the indication of aggressive racial hostility. The author found this to be a useful device in opening up a discussion of racial antagonism in a structured format. The program developed for those who score high on the assessment consists of seven modules that assess and explore socialization processes from childhood, moving onto the development of racial identity, attitudes, beliefs, and values. The purpose of the program is to encourage the offender to consider how prejudicial attitudes have contributed to their offending and how to develop the thinking skills and practical strategies to avoid offending in the future. The program can take up to 22 sessions, depending on the offender's ability to understand and respond to the materials. 5 references