10/09/2025
Chris English
By Jake Neller
Behavioural change programmes are a coordinated set of activities, tasks and approaches that are designed to support people in overcoming unhealthy or unhelpful behaviours, to improve health, safety and wellbeing. Skills are introduced that support the individual in altering their thought processes, beliefs and attitudes and learn skills to cope with difficult emotions. In Criminal Justice specifically, interventions also aim to address factors which are deemed criminogenic or risky in nature, such as impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, difficult relationships and substance misuse. The overarching aim of behavioural change programmes in Criminal Justice is to reduce the likelihood of reoffending by addressing the criminogenic needs.
The adoption of online interventions in the Criminal Justice system was initially slow, the COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst, accelerating the adoption of online behavioural change programmes, ensuring they remained accessible as we entered a national lockdown. The adoption of online interventions also meant that those who were excluded from face-to-face settings, either because they didn’t have the means to get there or their circumstances made it impossible, were able to receive some form of rehabilitation. Similarities exist between online behavioural change programmes and those that are delivered face-to-face, both follow a manualised approach, both can be delivered in either a one-to-one or group setting and both being facilitated by trained professionals.
Where online and face-to-face behavioural change programmes have their differences is in their benefits and their drawbacks. As mentioned previously, online behavioural change programmes can engage those who are unable to reach a face-to-face setting, this could be due to a disability or living in a remote area without the means to travel. This points to another benefit in that online interventions are more cost-effective as they eliminate the cost of a face-to-face venue, the need for travel and staffing costs. Service users typically engage in online behavioural change programmes from their own homes, meaning they may feel safer and more comfortable, which could translate into them being more open and willing to engage with the programme. Moreover, online interventions allow for a continuity of service during disruptions, such as a pandemic or train strikes, meaning the service user continues to receive treatment.
However, a key requirement of online behavioural change programmes is the need for access to a device and to the internet, not everyone has access to these, so they could be excluded from online interventions. Where the intervention takes place online, it could limit the personal connection between the practitioner and the service user, reducing the likelihood of a strong therapeutic relationship, a key factor in the effectiveness of behavioural change programmes. Furthermore, there is the potential for safeguarding and risk evaluation to be compromised, as you can never be sure that the service user is completing the programme in a private, safe setting. Limited empirical research versus long-term face-to-face interventions also makes it difficult to draw sound conclusions as to the effectiveness of online behavioural change programmes.
Despite the latter point above, there has been a push in recent years to evaluate the success of online behavioural change programmes. For example, a recent systematic review found that online behavioural change programmes can be as effective as face-to-face interventions for offender rehabilitation. Additionally, a separate study found that online interventions demonstrate efficacy in managing mental health problems for those who encounter the criminal justice system. While this evidence indicates that online interventions may serve as a viable alternative to face-to-face approaches, further research is required to draw more definitive conclusions.