Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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601. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the joint agency response to crime announced in 2015 to bring Gardaí, the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service together to target repeat offenders with diversion programmes in order to stop reoffending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37594/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Joint Agency Response to Crime (J-ARC) is a joint strategy between An Garda Síochána, the Probation Service, Irish Prison Service and my Department with a joint objective of targeting the 25% of recidivists who are responsible for 75% of crime; to manage nominated prolific offenders in order to reduce crime and; enhance public safety by strengthening the co-ordination and integration of policy, practice and research between these organisations. J-ARC is a strategic response to the management of prioritised prolific offenders whereby a number of pilot initiatives have been developed to address their behaviour and reduce crime. J-ARC (for adult offenders) is operating under four inter-agency initiatives in Dublin and this has been extended to three additional areas i.e. Dundalk, Waterford and Limerick.

The J-ARC strategy:

- develops and further strengthens a multi agency approach to the management of crime;

- prioritises offenders in order to develop initiatives which will address their behaviour; and

- aims to reduce crime and increase public safety in local communities.

A number of joint agency operational initiatives, outlined below, have been established on a pilot basis under the strategy, the aims of which are to ensure an enhancement of communication between agencies and the alignment of offender-management processes currently in operation, with a view to reducing the level of crime committed by the individuals concerned.

(i)ACER 3

ACER 3 is being piloted in two Garda Districts within the Dublin Metropolitan Region and is a multi-agency approach to the management of identified offenders charged with burglary. It provides an operational approach for co-ordinated and enhanced levels of co-operation and co-ordination between An Garda Síochána, the Probation Service and the Irish Prison Service. It places the offender at the centre of the process and identifies his/her needs, strengths and risk; and provides an interagency co-operation and co-ordinated response in addressing those needs and risks.

ACER 3 has also recently been extended to three additional areas i.e. Dundalk, Waterford and Limerick.

(ii)STRIVE Ballymun

This initiative in Ballymun targets those causing a high level of harm or disruption. The purpose of the initiative is to motivate those persons to desist from crime and have their identified needs addressed by local agencies or for a multi-agency intervention to be put in place to disrupt the individual’s criminal lifestyle. In addition, support measures and mechanisms are in place, by agencies within the community, for people connected with the offenders, i.e. families/siblings of offenders, those dependent on drugs/alcohol etc.

It is anticipated this initiative will facilitate the community in developing to be a more positive environment in which to live.

(iii)The Bridge Project - Change Works Programme

This Project is a company, limited by guarantee, which has worked with high-risk offenders for over 20 years and is funded through the Probation Service and the CDETB.

The Bridge Project has initiated the ‘Change Works’ Programme, targeting violent offenders who have been assessed as ‘likely to cause serious harm’ and aims to reduce the frequency and seriousness of offences committed by the target group.

The Project is Dublin-based and is fully aligned to Garda Case management, Probation Case Management, Integrated Sentence Management and Community Return. This initiative has a full-time, co-located, probation team and is initially planned to be 18-24 months in duration.

In 2017, J-ARC was extended to manage and address the criminal behaviour of nominated young people aged 16 to 21 years old which resulted in the inclusion of the Departments of Health; Children & Youth Affairs; and Education & Skills, as well as Tusla.

Youth Joint Agency Response to Crime Initiative (Y J-ARC)

Y J-ARC is the latest initiative under the Joint Agencies Response to Crime initiative. It was launched in 2017 and targets young people aged 16 to 21 years who are the most prolific in their offending. It provides an operational approach for co-ordinated and enhanced levels of co-operation between the Probation Service, An Garda Síochána, Irish Prison Service, Irish Youth Justice Service (Oberstown campus), Tusla and the Department of Education and Skills. It places the young person at the centre of the process and identifies his/her needs, strengths and risk; and provides an interagency co-operation and a co-ordinated response in addressing those needs and risks.

There are two pilot locations - Cork (Gurranabraher and Mayfield) and Blanchardstown, Dublin. Although at an early stage of development, it is anticipated that this multi-agency approach in working with young people, their families and their communities will be beneficial in addressing the risk, needs and strengths of the young people involved and in promoting safer communities.

J-ARC forms a key part of the first Joint Strategy on Offender Management agreed between my Department, An Garda Síochána, the Probation Service and the Irish Prison Service which is operating since September 2016. The Joint Strategy recognises that, in order to protect the public and reduce victimisation in Irish society, a joined-up approach to the management of offenders is essential. The Strategy sets out a range of agreed key objectives and supporting actions for the enhanced management of offenders, to be advanced on an inter-agency basis in the period 2016-2018.

The ACER 3, Bridge and Strive projects are in an evaluation process at present and more detailed information on the effectiveness of those projects should be available following the conclusion of that process.