Glossary

A glossary of acronyms commonly used in criminal justice publications

This glossary is intended to help readers understand criminal justice publication which can contain many acronyms. Few legal terms are included in this glossary as it concentrates on criminal justice policy and practice. There are a number of useful glossaries for legal terms on the internet, for example here and here.

Further information on any organisations listed can be found on our Links page.

 A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z 

A

ACCT

Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork

AIDS

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

ASBO

Anti-Social Behaviour Order - a civil order banning the subject from entering certain areas, associating with certain people, or doing certain things.

ASRO

Addressing Substance Related Offending-Community-base offending behaviour modular group work proogramme. 

ASW

Approved Social Worker

B

BCS

British Crime Survey - the annual Home Office survey of people's experience of crime and feelings about it covering England and Wales

BIP
Business In Prison- Focus is on self-employment development with serving prisoners and links required after release to start a business.

BME

Black and Minority Ethnic

BSC

British Society of Criminology

C

CARATS

Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare Services-Is the foundation of drug treatment framework.

CAST

Creative and Supportive Trust

CBT

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy- an approach to treatment that involves working with people to help them change their emotions, thoughts and behaviours. 

CCJS

Centre For Crime and Justice Studies

CCTV

Closed Circuit Television

CDRP

Crime and disorder Reduction Partnership

CICA

Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority

CJA

Criminal Justice Act

CJIT

Criminal Justice Information Technology

CJS

Criminal Justice System

CPS

Crown Prosecution Service.

CRB

Criminal Records Bureau- a Home Office Agency that provides employers with relvant information about individuals to assist in child related and other recruitment decisions.

CRC

Crime Recording Centre

CRO

Criminal Records Office

CSF

Crime and Society Foundation

CSO

Community Service Order

D

DAT

Drug Action Team

DCA

Department for Constitutional Affairs

DfES

Department for Education and Skills

DH

Department of Health

DIP

Drug Intervention Programme

DJ

District Judge (previously known as Stependiary Magistrates)

DPA

Data Protection Act

DPO

Data Protection Officer

DTTO

Drug Treatment and Testing Order

DVLO

Domestic Violence Liaison Officer

DWP

Department of Work and Pensions

E

ECHR

European Convention of Human Rights

ETS

Enhanced Thinking Skills-addresses thinking and behaviour associated with offending.

F

FOIA

Freedom of Information Act 2000

G

GBH

Grievous Bodily Harm

GSI

Government Secure intranet

H

HDC

Home Detention Curfew

HMCE

Her Majesty's Customs and Excise

HMIC

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary

HMIP

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prison, AND/OR Probation

HMP

Her Majesty's Prison

HMPS

Her Majesty's Prison Service

HO

Home Office

I

IMB

Independent Monitoring Board- a board of lay people attached to each prison which independently monitors the prison premises, its administration and treatment of prisoners.

J

JCC

Joint Consultative Council

K

KPI

Key Performance Indicator

L

LCJB

Local Criminal Justice Board

M

MDO

Mentally Disordered Offenders

MOJ
Ministry of Justice

N

NACRO

National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders

NCIS

National Criminal Intelligence Service

NCS

National Drug Squad

NIMHE

National Institute for Mental Health England- is responsible for supporting the implementation of positive change in mental health and mental health services.

NOM

National Offender Manager - head of the National Offender Management Service who leads and develops offender management and national commissioning, including the commissioning of custodial and community sentences.

NOMIS

National Offender Managment Information System

NOMS

National Offender Management Service - NOMS was created in 2004 after a government review identified gaps in the work of prisons and probation. As a new single service, NOMS is intended to bring together the work of correctional services.

NPD

National Probation Directorate

O

OASys

Offender Assessment System - the assessment tool used by the Prison Service and the National Probation Service in England and Wales from 2002 to measure the risks and needs of criminal offenders under their supervision. There is some concern that OASys do

OBP

Offending Behaviour Programme

OCJR

Office of Criminal Justice Reform

ODPM

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

P

PACT

Prison Advice and Care Trust- an indepentent national charity working with prisoners and with prisoners' families.

PCT

Primary Care Trust - NHS Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are statutory bodies responsible for delivering better health care and health improvements to their local area. Collectively PCTs are responsible for spending around 75% of the total NHS budget.

PII

Public Interest Immunity

PPO

The Prisons and Probations Ombudsman

PRT

Prison Reform Trust

PSI

Prison Service Instruction

PSO

Prison Service Order

R

R & R

Reasoning & Rehabilitation- A cognitive behavioural programme focusing on teaching offenders how to think, not what you think.

RAPt

The Rehabilatation of Addicted Prisoners trust- provides a variety of services in various locations around the country.  RAPt also runs support services both inside and outside the prison system.

RILO

Racial Incident Liaison Officer

RJ

Restorative Justice

ROM

Regional Offender Manager - ten Regional Offender Managers (ROMS) direct work in the regions. ROMS are accountable to the National Offender Manager. England and Wales are divided into ten regions, each headed by a ROM.

ROTL

Release On temporary Licence

S

SBS

Southhall Black Sisters

SGC

Sentencing Guidelines Council

SOTP

Sexual Offender Treatment Programme

SOVA

Supporting Others Through Volunteer Action

SP

Supporting People

U

USI

Unlawful Sexual Intercorse

V

VCS

Vountary and Community Sector

VISOR

Violent & Sex Offender Register

VSS

Victim Support Scheme

W

W.H.A.C

Women's Health Advice Centre

WIP

Women in Prison- provides a range of services for women in custody across England.

WISH

Women in Special Hospital

WORP

Women's Offending Reduction Programme

WPT

Women's Policy Team

Y

YCO

Youth Case Officer

YJB

Youth Justice Board

YOI

Young Offenders Institution

YOT

Youth Offending Team