Cognitive

• Think First is a programme of group and one-to-one sessions for repeat offenders on probation
• Think First teaches self control, consequential thinking, and problem solving skills.
• Think First provides social interaction and moral reasoning training, as well as allows offenders to practise empathetic and perspective taking techniques
• Think First evaluation:

  Those completing the programme are 30% less likely to be re-convicted than offenders who receive an alternative community sentence. However, the non-completion rate is often high.
• Aggression replacement training (ART) is a programme for violent or aggressive offenders.
• Examples of ART:

  • Anger control techniques, dealing with emotions and providing offenders with alternative courses of action, instead of violence
  • Moral reasoning training that challenges their attitudes by confronting them with moral dilemmas.
  • Interpersonal skills training through role playing
• ART Evaluation:

  Evaluations mostly show lower re-conviction rates. However, some evaluations have found that although thinking skills improved, behaviour didn’t.