22/04/2025
WWO Team
Supporting Change, Not Just Managing Risk
Working with people who have offended is often challenging, complex, and, at times, frustrating — but it can also be deeply rewarding.
Behind every offence is a story, and behind every individual is potential. When we stop viewing people solely through the lens of their offending, we create space for growth, accountability, and meaningful change.
Here are ten practical tips for those professionals supporting people to move away from offending behaviour:
1. Build Trust Before You Build Change
Change doesn’t happen without trust. Many individuals in the criminal justice system have experienced judgment, rejection, or services that failed to meet their needs.
Slow down. Listen. Show up consistently. Trust is the foundation for everything that follows.
2. See the Person, Not Just the Offence
Nobody is the sum of their worst decision. Risk does need managing but so does potential.
Look for strengths. What skills do they have? What have they survived? What motivates them? People are more likely to change when they feel seen beyond their label.
3. Explore What’s Driving the Behaviour
Offending behaviour is rarely random. It often reflects trauma, poor coping strategies, or survival in difficult circumstances.
Dig deeper. Anger might be fear. Aggression might be shame. Theft might be poverty.
Understanding the “why” leads to more effective support.
4. Be Honest About Boundaries
Change work isn’t about being soft, it’s about being clear.
Set expectations early. Be upfront about what’s acceptable, what isn’t, and what the consequences of choices might be. Boundaries create safety for you and for them.
5. Build Skills, Not Just Insight
People don’t just need to talk about their problems, they need tools to handle them.
Support the development of practical life skills:
These aren’t just offence reduction strategies, they’re tools for a better life.
6. Take It One Step at a Time
Change can be overwhelming, especially for someone with a history of setbacks.
Break things down into small, achievable goals. Celebrate progress, no matter how small.
Confidence grows through success.
7. Challenge – With Respect
Challenge is essential, but the how matters.
Avoid shame. Instead, ask questions that invite reflection:
Hold people accountable, but do it with care and always hold onto hope.
8. Look at the Bigger Picture
Offending doesn’t occur in a vacuum.
Consider the wider context:
Supporting change means supporting the whole person.
9. Make Them Part of the Solution
Change is more powerful when people are in the driving seat.
Ask:
Involvement creates ownership.
10. Be Patient – Change Isn’t Linear
Relapse, resistance, and setbacks are normal parts of the change journey.
Stay consistent. Stay hopeful. Sometimes it’s the 5th, 10th, or even 20th conversation that plants the seed.
You may not always see the final result, sometimes your role is simply to move someone one step further than they were before.
Working with offending behaviour isn’t about fixing people. It’s about creating the conditions for responsibility, skill-building, and hope.
It’s about balance: challenge and support. Boundaries and compassion. Accountability and belief.
Above all, it’s about remembering that change is possible and it often starts with one person believing in them.
About the Author
Jonathan Hussey is a senior leader in the criminal justice sector with over 15 years of frontline and strategic experience.He has worked across probation, youth offending, and private sector rehabilitation services, supporting thousands of individuals to move away from offending behaviour and build more positive futures. Jonathan’s approach combines evidence-based practice with compassion, clarity, and a deep belief in people’s ability to change.
He is the author of several books, including:
These resources are widely used by practitioners to support behaviour change and skill development among individuals in the criminal justice system.