New help programme for offenders

A programme designed to rehabilitate criminal offenders, the first of its kind in the country, has been designed by an Ennis-based psychotherapist.
Johanna Treacy has designed RIOTS, (Reintegrating Offenders to Society) and the programme has led to her being shortlisted to take part in the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland bootcamp.
This week, she will be vying for a place on this year’s Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Social Impact Programme, with a total fund of €500,000 up for grabs.
The Social Impact Programme sought applications from individuals developing new, big ideas to address the social and environmental challenges we face in Ireland.
Johanna explained that the idea for RIOTS came to her when she studied mediation and conflict intervention in Maynooth.
“I always had an interest in people and behaviour, since I’m qualified as a career counsellor, clinical hypnotherapist, life coach and psychotherapist. While studying for the MA, I became very interested in the fact that the conventional methods to criminal justice were undeniably insufficient. The most recent figures from the UCD Institute of Criminology indicate a large number of offenders who receive a custodial sentence in court will go on to reoffend in the future,” she said.
“The RIOTS programme is unique for a number of reasons. It is the only programme of its kind in Ireland, designed to assist those who are imprisoned, have offended, or are at risk of offending. It looks at the possible causes, effects and possible solutions to their anti-social behaviour,” she added.
She believes there is a failure by society to address what is causing a person to offend and then reoffend.
“The majority of inmates come from disadvantaged backgrounds, are unemployed, have problems with alcohol and/or drugs, gambling and literacy. Many of them have self-hatred and suffer from low self-esteem and a large proportion of crime, I believe, flows from the inability of the person to deal adequately with life because of the effects of one or another of these problems and losses. These losses and problems are not addressed and hurt people who can’t cope in life have a tendency to hurt others,” she explained.
“It goes back to the old adage, ‘give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Show him how to fish and you feed him for life’. Society needs to be looking at what is causing a person to offend and reoffend. If a person doesn’t know why they are doing something and don’t know how or even if they can change it, they’ll keep repeating it,” she added.
She said that on her programme, behaviour is separate from the person. “It allows them the space to look at how the ripple effect of crime impacts on all involved, including themselves, their families, victims as well as the community where the crime took place. Other topics include how shame can lead to crime, the impact loss has on behaviour, improving self-esteem as well as what makes a genuine apology and the skills to create a more positive future for themselves,” she explained.
The programme was piloted in Canal House Probation Training Centre in Ballinasloe and has received positive feedback. “A number of participants said it gave them an insight that they never had before into the reasons behind their offending behaviour as well as the skills to change and create a different life for themselves and their families. Due to the positive feedback, the co-ordinator is looking at running the programme again in September,” Johanna said.
During this week’s bootcamp, Johanna and the other applicants will be joined by a number of Dragons from RTÉ’s Dragons Den and she will pitch her idea to a panel of judges.
The bootcamp is part of an eight-month selection process, resulting in six social entrepreneurs embarking on a three-month finalists programme prior to the announcement of three winners in October.
The winners will receive extensive funding and support as part of the Social Impact Programme to help them grow and increase the impact they are having in Ireland.
Since 2005, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland has provided support to 142 social entrepreneurs, directly investing more than €3.7 million into supporting these individuals. Established in 2004, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland is a privately funded, not-for-profit organisation that believes innovation and social change in Ireland will be driven by exceptional people with exceptional ideas.
Anybody who would like more information on the RIOTS programme can contact Johanna on 086 0829907.