Prison officials are considering implementing a programme aimed at reducing the rate of recidivism among young offenders.

And if the programme -- devised by prison psychologist Mike Burkhead -- is accepted, it will completely revise the Corrective Training School's curriculum.

Dr. Burkhead told The Royal Gazette the revised system was based on research by a Canadian psychologist who reviewed more than 1,000 effective treatment principles for offenders, including juveniles.

"So I have taken that work and modified it a little bit to fit Bermuda's situation,'' he said.

Noting that the programme was "very simple'' but required effort from the young offender, Dr. Burkhead explained: "It is a behaviour modification programme in which the trainees receive points for participating and completing particular programmes or work activity. And once they have accumulated a required number of points, then they can be considered for release.'' Under the new scheme, a young offender must successfully complete a full range of educational, psychological and social programmes before he is released from the Co-Ed Facility in St. George's.

Unlike the present programme which only offers English, maths and some vocational training, the proposed scheme includes English and maths classes, vocational training in mechanics, carpentry, and electronics, substance abuse education, psychological treatment including anger management and cognitives intervention.

It would also include community service projects, work release, a mentoring programme which is already in place, and an Outward Bound programme.

"The community service projects are intended to be done on Saturdays so that there are even requirements that are met on the weekend,'' Dr. Burkhead explained. "It is a much fuller curriculum. There's a great deal more activity and the trainee, in order to complete the programme, has to participate in all of these activities satisfactorily in order to attain enough points to get released.'' The programme is also designed whereby if the juvenile works hard and cooperates, he could complete his sentence in the minimum nine months.

A sentence at the Corrective Training School can range from nine months to three years.

Corrective training "The way it works now it is based primarily on how long they have been here rather than what they have done,'' Dr. Burkhead said. "What I'm proposing to do is make their progress through the system dependent on what they have accomplished, not on how long they have been here.'' That was just one of the advantages of the new programme, he noted.

Another plus in the plan was that it was "very objective rather than subjective''.

"So it is very clear to the trainee, staff, and the public what the trainee must do in order to be released,'' Dr. Burkhead said.

Another advantage would be that offenders in addition to receiving penalties for negative behaviours, would receive rewards for positive behaviours.

The penalties -- ranging from confinement in a room to reduction to a lower grade which could keep them at the school longer -- will stay the same, Dr.

Burkhead noted.

But rewards would range from promotion through the grades, based on what they had accomplished, to early release.

And some of the activities could be viewed both as treatment and as a reward, Dr. Burkhead said: "The Outward Bound programme, for example, will take place at the end of their programme as something they have worked their way up to.'' He also pointed out that the programme will have to be phased in order to be fair to some 20 youngsters already at the training school. And he said staff will have to be trained.

If the programme was implemented correctly it could reduce the rate of recidivism by 50 percent, he predicted.

"There is no programme that is going to succeed with every person,'' Dr.

Burkhead admitted. "This new programme will have some failures too. But it is reasonable to expect that the a successful implementation of this programme can reduce recidivism by 50 percent.'' However, Dr. Burkhead said he did not know when and if the programme would be implemented although it has been approved by the Prison Service.

Social Services Minister Clarence Terceira could not confirm when or if the programme would be implemented, but said he was "very impressed'' with it.