Protecting the public
Risk assessment
The key principle in the NOMS National Offender Management Model is that resources follow risk.
Before an offender is sentenced offender managers identify the potential risks offenders pose and give advice to the court.
How we assess offenders
A crucial tool for working out the risks is an Offender Assessment System known as OASys.
OASys was developed jointly by the probation and prison services and is considered to be the most advanced system of its kind in the world. Read the evaluation report on OASys (new window).
It scores the offender on both their risk of re-offending and the factors that have contributed to their criminal behaviour, whether it's lack of a job or home, or a problem like drug or alcohol abuse.
The OASys assessment score travels with the offender throughout his or her time in prison, on licence or under community supervision. An OASys score can be updated and reviewed at any time.
