What Matters in Probation

Subjects:

Criminology

Contents:

1 The origins of What Works: weak foundations? (George Mair, LJMU)

2 Uses and abuses of positivism (David Smith, University of Lancaster)

3 Cognitive behaviouralism: an historical overview (Kathleen Kendall, University of Southampton)

4 Developing effectiveness: frontline perspectives (Fergus McNeil, University of Glasgow)

5 Getting tough or being effective (Carol Hedderman, South Bank University)

6 Partnership and effective practice (Judith Rumgay, London School of Economics)

7 What matters most when probationers desist (Stephen Farrall, Keele University)

8 Community service as reintegration (Loraine Gelsthorpe and Sue Rex, University of Cambridge)

9 Rethinking community reintegration (Jon Spencer and Jo Deakin, University of Manchester)

10 How cognitive skills forgot about gender and diversity (Margaret Shaw, International Centre for the Prevention of Crime, Montreal and Kelly Hannah-Moffat, University of Toronto)

11 What Works: the views of Chief Officers (George Mair, LJMU)

12 People matter: developments in policy, practice and research in Scotland (Gill McIvor, Stirling University)

13 The globalisation of What Works (Anne Worrall, Keele University)

The What Works initiative is having a profound impact on the work of the National Probation Service, and much has been invested in new accredited programmes - both in terms of the numbers of offenders planned to complete these programmes and their anticipated impact upon offending. Yet there has been little scholarly or professional discussion of the nature and risks of the new paradigm: it is important that it is subjected to critical debate and scrutiny.

This book aims to provide a critical overview of What works, providing a wider set of perspectives on a project which is vital for the future of the National Probation Service. It has the following objectives: to assess critically the claims of the What Works initiative; to examine the foundations upon which What Works is based; to demonstrate the limitations of the What Works initiative as currently conceived; and to begin the process of constructing an alternative vision for the National Probation Service.