MAPPA Process
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What are MAPPA offenders?
By virtue of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, there are three broad categories of MAPPA offenders:
Category 1
Registered sexual offenders: offenders who have been convicted of a specified sexual offence and/or to whom the notification requirements under Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 apply (and who are therefore required to notify the Police of their name, address and other personal details, and notify the Police of any subsequent changes);
Category 2
Violent offenders: offenders convicted of a specified violent offence and sentenced to imprisonment/detention for 12 months or more, or detained under a hospital order. This category also includes a small number of sexual offenders who do not qualify for the notification requirements that apply to Category 1 offenders and offenders disqualified from working with children; and
Category 3
Other Dangerous Offenders: offenders who do not qualify under Categories 1 or 2 but have been assessed as currently posing a risk of serious harm. The link between the offence they have perpetrated and the risk that they pose means that they require active multi-agency management.
Level 1 - Ordinary Agency Management
Level 2 - Active Multi-Agency Management
The risk management plans for these offenders require the active involvement of several agencies via regular multi-agency public protection meetings.
Level 3 - Active Multi-Agency Management
As with offenders managed at Level 2, the active involvement of several agencies is required; however, the risk presented by offenders managed at Level 3 means that the involvement of senior staff from those agencies is additionally required to authorise the use of special resources, such as specialised accommodation.
In most cases, the offender will be managed under the ordinary arrangements applied by the agency or agencies with supervisory responsibility. A number of offenders, though, require active multi-agency management, and their risk management plans will be formulated and monitored via Multi-Agency Public Protection meetings attended by various agencies.
How does MAPPA work?
Offenders eligible for MAPPA are identified and information is gathered and shared about them across relevant agencies. The nature and level of the risk of harm they pose is assessed and a risk management plan is implemented to protect the public.
A risk management plan sets out the action that needs to be taken to minimise the risk. Some measures that can be considered are:
- Ensuring offenders have suitable accommodation, which can include requiring the offender to reside at a probation run hostel;
- Placing controls on the offenders behaviour through strict release licence conditions which can include not to have contact with a named individual and not to enter a defined exclusion zone;
- Intensive supervision by a probation officer offender manager and/or community public protection police:
(ii) Ensure that if appropriate the offender receives appropriate health care; and
(iii) Ensure the offender attends identified accredited programmes and other interventions (such as drug and alcohol programmes) aimed at reducing further offending.
Not all MAPPA offenders present an immediate risk of harm to others and in most cases; the offender will be managed under the ordinary arrangements applied by the agency or agencies with supervisory responsibility.