New Research Shows Benefits of ETS

Prisoners who have completed the Enhanced Thinking Skills (ETS) programme show less impulsive and improved behaviour after the course, new research has shown.

ETS is designed to help those who tend to act impulsively by teaching them less harmful ways of solving the problems they face in daily life. Impulsivity is a common feature of offenders and is a key cause of offending.

A study commissioned by the Ministry of Justice at the University of York looked into whether ETS makes any difference to the attitudes and behaviour of those prisoners who take part.

The research found that, following the programme, offenders became less impulsive and there were fewer wing security reports filed.

Now NOMS is rolling out the Thinking Skills Programme (TSP), a development of ETS which reflects the latest evidence, providing extra one-to-one help for offenders.

Lori Chilton, Head of NOMS Interventions and Substance Misuse Group said:

“This is great news. There is growing evidence from all over the world that the right programme delivered in the right way will make a real difference to offenders' lives. And here we can see that ETS is one of those programmes making a positive impact.

“It is good to see some real evidence to back up the feedback we get on how having treatment programmes in a prison makes it an easier place to run. It is good news for all prison staff and those in our care that offenders involved in programmes are easier to manage."

You can read the research reports on the Ministry of Justice website.

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