Service in Focus - One

     apas Court Report Services

 "For 33% of people in court or on probation, alcohol will have been a factor in their offence." 

Alcohol affects the areas of the brain that are responsible for judgement, anxiety, reasoning, perception, mood and memory, perhaps therefore, it is not so surprising that alcohol seems to be involved in such a high percentage of crimes. Alcohol is known to increase risk taking and dare devil behaviours as well as reducing a persons ability to think logically about there actions or consider the consequences. Even at the legal limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100mls of blood a person is twice as likely to be involved in an accident due to the effects of alcohol on concentration, perception and response times.

apas has built up strong links with the probation services, HMP  Nottingham & HMP Whatton, through these collaborations we are able to reach more of those people for whom alcohol is a problem and may be a contributory factor in their offence(s). Through support and education it maybe possible to prevent further offending and give these clients an opportunity to make a new life without crime and alcohol. 

We also see clients at the other side of the system - pre-sentencing, they may have come to us because they have been charged with a crime such as drink driving or drunk and disorderly, they may have approached us after committing a crime they would not have thought they were capable of and are scared and want help to prevent anything similar happening in the future. Solicitors, Probation officers and police staff may also provide a crucial link in referring people to alcohol services for help, recognising that it is more than the crime that is the issue. (Indeed the Nottingham Alcohol and Drug Team have an Arrest Referral team in the Bridewell, allowing individuals, whose crime involves alcohol, to seek instant access to support services.)

Whether Clients are referred through Probation, Prison, Solicitors or themselves apas can offer them a fast track service to assess their needs and their personal situation. The apas Court Report provides an unbiased documentation of the clients history and their present situation, its focus is on all the contributing factors providing a whole picture of the person, putting the role of alcohol in context with regards to their lifestyle, the offence and the next step in the rehabilitation process.