This programme focuses on drugs and alcohol abuse. This programme is based on the World Health Organisation’s AUDIT and ASSIST brief interventions and is used with their permission.
The target group for this programme are adult offenders aged 18 and above, who experiment with, use, or abuse substances. The programme is suited to both low and moderate risk clients.

This programme is not intended to address addiction. The programme covers the following topics:

• The different levels of substance use
• The effects of substance abuse as follows
• Impact of alcohol and substance abuse
• Low risk drinking
• How substances are portrayed in the media
• Why do some people use and abuse drugs and alcohol
• Exploring behaviour and motivation

The Adult Life Skills programme is a comprehensive behaviour change approach that concentrates on the development of core skills needed for people to function effectively in society, establish patterns of pro-social behaviour and advance positive healthy lifestyle in general.

This programme is suited to adults (high, medium and low-risk) who find themselves in conflict with pro-societal values and laws.

The Adult Life skills programme has elements of social learning, character building, social- and personal skills training and cognitive behavioural therapy. It covers 10 topics, delivered over 1½ to 2 hours per session. Group sessions for ten to 15 participants are held twice a week and the entire programme is delivered over a period of 5 to 6 weeks.

The Adult Life Skills programme prevent the development of risky behaviours into established patterns of anti-social and offending behaviour while advancing positive healthy lifestyles, by:

• Increased self-awareness and strength of character
• Developing individuals’ ability to adjust and cope in changing life situations
• Building core traits and value systems that support well-being, psychological adjustment, and good mental health

Beyond Boundaries is a life skills programme to address the needs of teenagers who are at risk of coming into conflict with pro-social values and laws. Beyond Boundaries targets at-risk teenagers aged 15 to 18 years.

Beyond Boundaries is a skills training, character building and behaviour change intervention, which also draws on elements of experiential learning, that focuses on improving adolescent social and personal functioning skills. It comprises an introductory session followed by ten further group sessions of approximately two hours each for ten to 15 participants.

The critical life skills, attitudes and values that participants acquire prevent the advancement of at-risk behaviour into established patterns of anti-social, risky and offending behaviour, while advancing positive, healthy lifestyles.

Participants are equipped to respond positively and assertively to pressure to make dangerous / wrong choices and decisions.

Break Free is designed for the treatment of adolescents with drug-related behaviour problems. Teenagers between the ages of 12 to 18 years who are at a low to medium risk of developing addiction disorders. This programme is not suitable for treating serious dependency and addiction.

Break Free has elements of drug education, social and personal skills training and cognitive behavioural therapy. It covers 12 topics, usually delivered over two sessions of 1½ hours per session. Group sessions for ten to 15 participants are usually held twice a week and the entire programme is delivered over a period of 6 to 8 weeks.

Break Free prevents the establishment of a pattern of drug abuse and encourages a positive, healthy, and law-abiding, lifestyle by:

• Preventing the onset of fully-fledged drug abuse and addiction
• Developing unfavourable attitudes towards drug use and risky, offending behaviour
• Teaching critical social and life skills, including good decision-making, goal setting, stress management, peer resistance and assertiveness skills
• Building a positive sense of self and the belief in one’s ability to succeed.
• Increasing protective factors and decreasing risk factors associated with risky behaviour

A free online educational programme for parents and guardians, explaining the esports and gaming sector, the types of risk children face online, and a review of practical strategies parents and guardians can take to keep their children safe online. This programme was developed as part of a collaborative partnership with the Africa Esport Association  (AESA) , and the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention (CJCP). You will need to create a free account on the platform. 

Register for the programme here.

This responsible driving initiative is an awareness and road safety education programme that aims to prevent road offences and promote road safety. License holding drivers of vehicles and individuals with a learner driver’s license. It is especially relevant to those who are employed as drivers or working in the transportation field.

The programme comprises three group sessions of one-and-a-half hours each for ten to 15 participants. It challenges negative attitudes and unsafe driving behaviour, with a particular focus on driving under the influence (DUI) and develops effective strategies to support sober, good driving habits and promote road safety.

This programme educates and empowers participants

• To avoid drunk driving and other unsafe driving behaviours
• To develop positive attitudes towards driving
• With the information and skills necessary to become a safe, more responsible road user

This programme offers diverted or sentenced offenders the opportunity of serving the community they have wronged by performing a set number of hours of community service rather than appearing in court or, if convicted, serving a prison sentence. The aim is to provide a platform through which people can give back to society while learning new skills.

CSL targets adolescents aged 15 to 17 years and adult offenders with a low to medium risk offending profile.

A NICRO social worker, in consultation with the public prosecutor, determines the requisite number of hours. Depending on the offence, circumstances surrounding the offence and the offender’s current situation between 20 and 300 hours can be allocated for community service. Community service learning can be directed towards the community as a whole or a specific group within the community, such as the aged, at-risk youth or the handicapped.

Compliance is strictly monitored.

Participation in this programme empowers participants to develop

• A personal stake in the well-being of their communities
• Competencies and skills such as relationship building, personal growth and development and essential cognitive (thinking) skills
• Instils a sense of the participant’s own value within a community
• Fosters empathy and motivates the individual to become a proud, caring member of the community who helps to identify and create solutions to community social problems
• Community service also addresses real needs in communities

The Economic Opportunities Programme provides socio-economically marginalised people with low education and skills with the necessary knowledge, competencies and tools to access the economy through informal or alternative income streams.

EOP targets adults, with a specific focus on women and those living in socio-economically marginalised communities.

This intervention comprises four programme modules that focus on the basics of small business and entrepreneurship and innovative thinking around developing new business opportunities. It equips participants with basic financial and digital literacy skills.

The programme improves the participant’s ability to generate an income and make a living by assisting them to:

• Identify potential income streams in his/her community
• Map out and implement a basic income generating activity
• Use basic financial methods and tools for personal and income generating activities
• Use basic digital technology to increase access digital to marketplaces and online income generation opportunities

Positive Masculinities (PM) is a social functioning development programme designed by the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention (CJCP).

CJCP granted NICRO permission to adjust and use this programme under the Creative Commons License.

The PM programme is designed to address the impact of negative conceptions of malehood and masculinities amongst males.

The programme’s goal is to:

1. Develop and foster a positive conception of maleness and masculinity amongst male programme beneficiaries
2. Empower men to define positive social roles for themselves
3. Develop and foster positive prosocial behaviours amongst men
4. Counteract the negative influence of patriarchal socialisation on men
5. Empower men to see themselves as agents for positive change in the personal lives, homes and communities.

This programme is suitable for males aged 12 and above. The programme lasts for between 7 to 8 hours.

Individual counselling is performed by a social worker (experienced in clinical work) and addresses issues specific to the individual. It involves one-on-one sessions in a safe, caring and confidential environment.

The number of sessions is specified as part of the client’s need profile or may be mandated by a court order, should this be relevant.
During sessions the client (with facilitation by the social worker)

• Explores challenges and personal problems
• Identifies solutions that will facilitate positive, lasting change
• Explores, analyses and understand their feelings, beliefs, and behaviours
• Changes patterns of thinking
• Learns new skills
• Changes behaviours
• Shift the way they feel and express emotions

Individual counselling equips clients to:

• Identify those aspects of their lives that they would like to change. have a better understanding of themselves and others
• Develop good insight into their concerns, challenges and personal problems
• Set achievable goals
• Develop and implement strategies to accomplish desired change for a healthier, happier life

This therapeutic treatment programme for perpetrators and victims of intimate partner violence holds perpetrators systematically accountable for their violence and abuse, while simultaneously optimising support for and ensuring the safety of their victims.

This programme targets adult male perpetrators of intimate partner violence usually referred to NICRO by the courts, and victims.

This 20-week group-based programme incorporates elements of psycho-educational and cognitive-behavioural therapy for perpetrators to educate, provide social and personal skills training and change ‘faulty’ thinking patterns, attitudes and behaviour.

Group sessions lasting 90 to 120 minutes for ten to 15 perpetrator participants are conducted weekly. Structured counselling and support groups for victims/partners of programme participants involve a minimum of eight sessions. Individual counselling (separate sessions for perpetrators and their partners/victims), couples counselling and family work are also undertaken.

This programme decreases intimate partner violence and its effects:

• Ensuring that perpetrators understand the underlying causes and consequences of their abusive behaviour
• Facilitating behaviour change of perpetrators by building thinking skills which equip them to develop new, healthier ways of communication and interaction
• Ensuring the mental and emotional health, safety and well-being of partners /victims
• Equipping victims to influence others in similar situations and to motivate them to action

The purpose of the Parenting Programme is to equip adult clients with the skills and knowledge they need to be effective caregivers. The programme covers the following topics: 

• Role of the caregiver
• Co-parenting
• Developmental stages and behaviour
• Nutrition
• Online safety
• Positive parenting
• Taking care of yourself

This is a victim-centred conflict resolution process which takes place outside of the formal judicial system. The focus is on rebuilding disruptive relationships and putting things right rather than punishment. Restorative Group Conferencing includes restorative panels, victim/offender conferencing, family group conferences and victim impact panels.

This service is suited for offenders, victims, family members and friends of both parties as well as community members, if relevant.

This intervention is not advisable for serious offences like sexual offences, murder, rape, offences against children and violent offences. In exceptional circumstances it will be considered if the victim or family of the victim requests it, after thorough consultation and recommendation from the professional team at NICRO.

Participation in restorative group conferencing may be court ordered or requested by the parties involved.
The process is facilitated by a NICRO social worker. The facilitator meets with both parties to prepare them for the meeting/s to discuss what they would like to say and expect from the intervention. Participation in restorative justice processes is voluntary for all parties, including victims. Participants may withdraw from the process at any time.

This intervention has numerous positive outcomes including:

• Empowering victims and supporting the healing process
• Holding offenders accountable for their offences
• Giving the community a voice in the conflict resolution process to help build a safer community
• Promoting a sense of healing, reconciliation and social justice

This responsible driving programme focuses on changing the individual’s attitude towards alcohol use and driving under the influence, reckless driving and road safety generally.

Shifting Gears targets adult offenders arrested and diverted or convicted for driving under the influence (DUI), reckless and negligent driving, and culpable homicide resulting in a road death.

This is a court mandated six-session group-based programme for ten to 15 participants, with each session lasting two or two-and-a-half hours.

Shifting Gears allows suitable offenders to participate in this behaviour modification treatment programme and carry out their sentences in the community. Although the consequences of the driving offence will not involve going to prison, convicted offenders will have a criminal record. Diverted offenders, however, will not have a criminal record.

Shifting Gears educates and empowers participants to...

• Reduce/eliminate drunk other unsafe driving behaviours
• Build and apply new knowledge, skills, and strategies while cultivating insights to change bad or drunk driving behaviour
• Improve awareness of the dangers and consequences of drunk and reckless driving
• Explore the benefits of responsible drinking
• Explore what it means to be a responsible driver
• Examine the rights of other road users and pedestrians as well as the consequences of road offences

This intervention has proven that it reduces bad or drunk driving and contributes towards keeping South Africans safe on the road.

This crime prevention programme seeks to address and reduce anti-social behaviour in schools and the surrounding community by empowering and developing change agents or “Safety Ambassadors” to interact with and positively influence their peers in the fight against crime, violence and anti-social behaviour.

This programme is school specific. This programme targets learners (15- to 18-year-olds in senior / high schools).

This programme, grounded in the peer socialisation model, involves 12 one-hour life skills training sessions for 30 selected learners.

This group of carefully selected learners, Safety Ambassadors, are

• Empowered with skills, knowledge, motivation and support to serve as positive role models
• Taught how to plan and implement activities to reduce and prevent antisocial behaviour and promote positive, prosocial behaviour in their school.

Parents and educators attend a two-day behaviour management workshop to equip them to support high-risk children

This “whole school” approach supports and encourages...

• The creation of a safe, healthy, drug and alcohol-free learning environment
• Safer communities in which young people are encouraged and inspired to realise academic achievements and live positive, healthy lifestyles as upstanding, contributing members of the community.

The National School Safety Framework (NSSF) is the government's school safety protocol. All state schools are required to implement the NSSF.  The NSSF was developed by the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention (CJCP) for the Department of Basic Education. It is used by NICRO with the permission of CJCP.

NICRO has a SACE accredited training on the NSSF on NICRO Online.

There is a free non-accredited NSSF training programme on Zibuza (registration free).