The Cheshire & Greater Manchester Community Rehabilitation Company designed and implemented a unique order for men aged from 18 to 25 who have committed an offence which carries a jail sentence of less than 12 months. It is called the Intensive Community Order (ICO).
The ICO offers supervision for men from 18 to 25 who have committed offences which place them at risk of receiving a custodial sentence. ICO supports people to stop re-offending. It is tailored to an individual’s age, maturity and their personal history.
The ICO team adopts view that adulthood is not fully reached aged 18. There is a vast amount of research to evidence that young adult’s cognitive development continues into their mid-20s. All ICO interventions are designed with this principle in mind.
Under the ICO, an individual will be:
- supervised by probation at least twice a week
- supported by a mentor who helps them access schemes such as training, education and assistance in writing a CV
- subject to 30 hours per week activity
- reviewed by courts
- faced with swift sanction for non-compliance
In addition, an individual on an ICO may be:
- on a curfew
- on a programme aimed at addressing their offending behaviour
- on Community Payback
The ICO sentence lasts from between nine months to two years and most will involve undertaking up to five requirements out of the 12 available.