What is the Midlands Threshold Dialogue?

Given the success of the Bournemouth Threshold Dialogue (which was initiated in 2007 and based on what we learnt from the PPO Threshold Dialogue Pilot which ran between 2004 and 2007), Prison Dialogue is looking for a location in the Midlands to replicate a similar venture in 2009.  An appraisal is currently taking place to determine three favourable options, from which to choose one new location.  See the Appraisal Criteria page for details of this selection process.

Appraisal Criteria

The Midlands Threshold Dialogue will replicate the basic concept of end-to-end offender management realised in the PPO pilot and Bournemouth Threshold Dialogue - but there will be scope for significant variation according to local need and opportunity. The pilot was specifically for PPOs, whilst the Bournemouth Threshold Dialogue covers all offenders who will be released into Bournemouth with the opportunity to choose which category of offender to give most attention.  In the Midlands either of these approached could be chosen, or attention could be given primarily to family relationships in and out of prison, an employment chain that starts in prison and ends in the community, or some other core resettlement value.

For the initial identification of potential sites, we have been referring to the following:

• Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) to identify communities that score poorly
• The release patterns of local and trainer prisons in relation to those communities
• HM Inspector of Prisons Reports to identify establishments that have been directed to attend to a   limited resettlement capability
• Opportunities for two prisons to work together in relation to a particular community
• The mileage between potential prison and community dialogues
• Prisons where we can add most value in a sustainable way through Threshold Dialogue

Prisons and Communities that believe they may meet these criteria are welcome to apply to participate in this initiative.