OASys Challenges & Corrections
An OASys assessment can play an important role in decisions throughout a prisoner’s sentence. Information recorded within OASys may be considered when assessing risk, sentence planning, categorisation, progression, release arrangements and supervision in the community.
Where information within an OASys assessment is inaccurate, outdated, misleading or does not properly reflect a prisoner’s current circumstances, it can have significant consequences.
At Prisoner Rights Legal Services, we help prisoners identify disputed information within their OASys assessment and prepare detailed written representations requesting that inaccuracies are reviewed and, where appropriate, corrected or updated.
Need advice about information contained within an OASys assessment? Call us today on 0203 697 0403 for a confidential discussion.
What is OASys?
OASys — the Offender Assessment System — is used by prison and probation services to assess and record information relating to an individual’s offending, circumstances, risks and needs.
An OASys assessment can contain information concerning areas such as:
- offending behaviour;
- previous convictions;
- accommodation;
- relationships and family circumstances;
- employment and education;
- lifestyle;
- drug or alcohol issues;
- emotional wellbeing;
- attitudes and behaviour;
- risk of serious harm;
- risk management; and
- sentence and release planning.
Because this information may be relied upon by different professionals and decision-makers, accuracy is extremely important.
Why Challenge an OASys Assessment?
Prisoners sometimes discover information within their OASys which they believe is wrong, outdated or does not fairly reflect their position.
Examples can include:
- incorrect factual information;
- allegations recorded as though they are established facts;
- outdated information continuing to influence current assessments;
- inaccurate descriptions of behaviour or attitudes;
- progress in custody not being properly reflected;
- completed courses or interventions being omitted;
- incorrect information concerning family relationships or accommodation;
- inconsistencies between different sections of the assessment;
- information concerning immigration or other status which is factually incorrect;
- inaccurate accounts of the prisoner’s attitude towards their offending;
- risk assessments which appear to rely upon information that has since changed; or
- important positive information being absent from the assessment.
An OASys challenge is not simply about disagreeing with an assessment. The strongest representations identify the specific information in dispute, explain why it is inaccurate or requires updating and provide evidence supporting the prisoner’s position.
Why OASys Accuracy Matters
Information contained within OASys can potentially influence important decisions during a sentence.
Depending upon the individual case, this may include decisions relating to:
- prison categorisation;
- progression to lower security or open conditions;
- sentence planning;
- offending behaviour work;
- risk management;
- release planning;
- licence arrangements;
- Parole Board consideration; and
- supervision following release.
An error which initially appears minor can therefore become significant if it continues to be repeated or relied upon in later assessments.
Challenging Outdated Information
Risk and circumstances can change during a sentence.
A prisoner’s conduct, completed interventions, employment, education, family circumstances and understanding of their offending may develop significantly over time.
Where an assessment continues to rely heavily upon old information without adequately recording subsequent progress, representations can be made asking for the current position to be properly considered.
The purpose is to ensure that decision-makers have an accurate and balanced picture based upon both relevant historical information and current evidence.
Correcting Factual Errors
Some disputes concern straightforward factual inaccuracies.
This might include incorrect dates, family circumstances, completed courses, behaviour records, immigration information, accommodation details or other objectively verifiable matters.
Where documentary evidence demonstrates that information is incorrect, we can identify the relevant entry, provide the supporting evidence and request that the matter is reviewed and appropriately corrected.
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