Support planning meetings
Support planning meetings create a network and a safety plan for the offender in the community. Research suggests that support networks increase the chances of a successful and non-offending future for the individual involved.
The meetings are held within the first four weeks following either release from prison, or the start of a supervision or an extended supervision order.
The support group can decide to hold meetings monthly or every three months, or just before the end of the sentence or order.
Who is at the meeting?
The people who are at the meeting will be either directly involved in the offender’s life or likely to be involved in the near future. The support network can include:
- support people identified by the offender, such as family members, employees and friends
- other professionals or treatment providers, such as psychologists or specialist treatment programmes
- people from relevant government agencies - such as Corrections, Child, Youth and Family, and the Police.
The role of support people
Support people can be anyone who has been part of the offender’s life and who want to play a part in keeping the offender crime-free. They are essential for an effective support network as the professionals involved generally have less frequent contact with the offender in the community.
Support people can help the offender in practical ways, such as providing transport, accompanying them to appointments, or being available for phone contact. They can also help the offender be aware of risky situations and warning signs and how to act on these.