Dear Forum Users
In May 2023, one of our users, started a thread on the Forum with a glossary of abbreviations and terms to help users understand some of the complex language and acronyms that are commonly used. Since then, the thread has been pinned in the Family and Friends Forum topic folder 'Discussion and Support' for ease of access and visibility to our users, and later in the new topic folder "Welcome and New users". As we continue to develop the forum, we have created a dedicated page for this post to ensure it remains easily accessible for everyone who may benefit from it. The original post has been reproduced here for reference. We do not claim authorship or credit for the original post. This is not an exhaustive list, so if you wish to add anything that is not already there, please let us know my emailing forum@lucyfaithfull.org.uk and we will be more than happy to update the list.
If you would like to access the original thread for this post and replies made by our other users, you can find it here.
Abbreviations
CAMHS- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
CO – Community order
CIN - Child in need
CJSWR - Criminal Justice Social Work Report (Scottish name for the pre sentence report)
CPP - Child protection plan
CPS - Crown Prosecution Service
CSA - Child Sexual Abuse
CS – Childrens Services
CSAM - Child sexual abuse material
CSE- Child Sexual Exploitation
DBS - Disclosure and Barring Service
FM - Family member
HMPPS – His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service
ICAT - Internet Child Abuse Team (police - another name for POLIT)
IIOC - Indecent images of children
LFF - Lucy Faithfull Foundation
MAPPA - Multi-agency public protection arrangements
MAPS – Maps for Change
MOSOVO - Management of Sexual and violent Offenders
NCA – National crime agency
NFA - No further action
OCAG - Online Child Activist Group (police term for vigilantes)
OH - Other half
OM – Offender Manager
OIC - Officer (police) in charge of the case
PLO- Public Law Outline
PO - Probation Officer
POLIT – Police Online Investigation Team
PPU - Public protection Unit (police)
RAR - RAR stands for ‘Rehabilitation Activity Requirement’, these can be a requirement of an individual's sentence.
PSR – Pre-Sentence Report
Restriction of Liberty Order - Scottish version of a curfew
RiC – Remanded in Custody
RSO – Registered Sex Offender
RUI - Released under investigation
SHPO - Sexual Harm Prevention Order
SDR – Standard Delivery Report
SOR - Sex Offenders Register
SS - Social Services
SSO – Suspended Sentence Order
SW - Social Worker
UPW – Unpaid Work
ViSOR – Violent and Sex offender register
Terms
Horizon – a programme offered by HMPPS that is designed to address contact sexual offending. This can be completed in custody or in the community.
iHorizon – a programme offered by HMPPS that is designed to address offences involving possessing, downloading, and/or distributing indecent images of children, where there is no direct or indirect contact with victims. This can be completed in custody or in the community.
Maps for change – a compendium of worksheets, designed to target offending behaviour and support desistance, used primarily with those who do not meet the risk criteria for iHorzon/Horizon. It is often described as a 1:1 programme and is typically offered in the community and undertaken in supervision sessions by a probation officer.
Sentencing guidelines -The Sentencing Council for England and Wales promotes greater consistency in sentencing, whilst maintaining the independence of the judiciary. The Council produces guidelines on sentencing for the judiciary and criminal justice professionals and aims to increase public understanding of sentencing.
Bail - while under investigation the police will release on bail giving specific instructions as to what can't be done and a date for bail to end. This date can be extended many times, 28 days is first, a sergeant will sign off on 3 months, anything after that has to be applied for by the police to a magistrate court.
Applicable bail period - this is the time the suspect is on bail. This 'clock' is suspended once the case goes to the CPS so no further application for extensions are needed, though the date to surrender (return to the station) can be and quite often is moved several times.
Electronic Monitoring device assessment - Scottish assessment to see if a GPS tag is required.
PTSD - Post-traumatic stress disorder can affect anyone exposed to trauma – triggered by a terrifying event or events provoking shock, fear, helplessness, or horror.
What are the symptoms of PTSD? A wide variety of physical, mental and emotional symptoms such as hypervigilance, anger & fear, panic attacks, flashbacks, digestive issues, feeling numb, nightmares and exhaustion.
What are the treatments for PTSD? Psychotherapies such has EMDR and CBT, time and good self-care. Support available from PTSDuk.org
C-PTSD - Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (complex PTSD, sometimes abbreviated to c-PTSD or CPTSD) is a condition where you experience some symptoms of PTSD along with additional symptoms, such as: difficulty controlling your emotions. feeling very angry or distrustful towards the world. Support available from PTSDuk.org
s.47/section 47: Section 47 of The Children's Act 1989. A Section 47 Enquiry might also be referred to as a Child Protection enquiry, a Child Protection Investigation, or an S47. These investigations are carried out to assess the risk of significant harm to a child (or children). As part of the investigation, professionals will consider what needs to happen to help ensure that children are safe.
KCSIE - keeping children safe in education: Statutory guidance for schools and colleges on safeguarding children and safer recruitment.
WTSC - Working together to safeguard children. Statutory guidance on inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.