The Practice Transfer Advisory Committee (PTAC) seeks to highlight innovation in best practice in jurisdictions around the world and aims to help facilitate their implementation in other jurisdictions worldwide.
For 2025, the practice we will be promoting Peer Mentoring and Peer Support by persons with lived corrections experience because we see this approach as gaining growing acceptance within correctional services around the world.
In 2024, PTAC is focused on the concept of family engagement in prison and post-release with the goal of deepening and improving understanding of what good practice looks like in this area and how jurisdictions can learn from one another to improve their engagement of families of prisoners.
PTAC Board liaison
PTAC Board liaison
PTAC Board liaison
PTAC Board liaison
Desistance from crime involves not only the termination of offending (also referred to as “primary desistance”), but also some level of transformation of self-identity and self-worth (also referred to as “secondary desistance”). Such transformation is usually presented through a “narrative of change” linked to taking on new roles (such as parent, employee, coach, etc.) that are no longer associated with offending. Avenues for transformation and pro-social role development are difficult to come by for many of those involved in the criminal justice system who are disproportionately drawn from socially excluded backgrounds. Coupled with the stigma attached to a criminal record, offenders also typically have low levels of pro-social capital, few positive relationships and limited employment prospects, all of which are required to support successful rehabilitation efforts. Research has shown that a “catalyst for change” is fundamental to successful desistance and rehabilitation efforts, and research is beginning to show that engagement in sport and physical activity can potentially act as such a catalyst. The introduction of the Twinning Project in 2018 within the HM Prison and Probation Service, which aims to utilise football coaching to tackle the “revolving door” of offending, was therefore a timely and important initiative.