ABSTRACT
‘Approved premises’ (hostels for adult offenders) are a unique resource in the community 1 interventions field. They offer the possibility of interaction between staff and residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while being located in the community and this is key to their rehabilitative and dynamic risk management potential. Apart from a custodial sentence, criminal justice staff have no other measure in their public protection toolkit that affords the opportunity for such intensive, focused and potentially individually tailored change orientated intervention(s). The current stated purpose of approved premises is the provision of enhanced supervision as a contribution to the management of offenders who pose a significant risk of harm to the public (Home Office 2005).
