
Rehabilitation Work: Supporting Desistance and Recovery
Fascinating new book by Doctor Hannah Graham explores how probation officers resolve conflicts between their own values & the requirements of their organisation
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Fascinating new book by Doctor Hannah Graham explores how probation officers resolve conflicts between their own values & the requirements of their organisation
Embedding desistance practice The timing of the Probation Inspectorate’s new thematic inspection on desistance and young people could hardly be better. Published on 24 May
Perhaps their most important conclusion is the contention that probation practice should focus more on helping sex offenders move forward, away from a life of crime rather than continuously re-examining past offences.
Understanding the whole person The Revolving Doors Agency has just (26 November 2015) published the first in a series of literature reviews on severe and multiple
This finding gives hope to the value of Mr Gove’s review; if the quality and availability of prison education can be improved, it appears that there are large numbers of prisoners committed to making a positive change to their lives with education a keystone to that progress.
It is surprising that in 2015, there is almost no British research of sufficient high quality to inform best practice in reducing women’s offending. There is a particular need to develop an effective evidence base around what works in helping women to desist from violent crime.
I can foresee a situation in the near future where the MoJ links its own funding to participation in the Justice Data Lab and puts pressure on other funders to do the same.
While overcoming difficulties was a part of their journey towards the good life, goals such as a home and healthy relationships were as important to these individuals as most people who don’t face their challenges. The report is enlivened by a range of collages which were the key tool used by participants to express their aspirations.
However, the MoJ and NOMS no longer have any control over the way in which the new Community Rehabilitation Companies deliver services and it will be up to these new probation providers has to whether desistance is really at the heart of their work to reduce reoffending and help offenders move towards a more positive lifestyle.
These principles are based on a combination of desistance and recovery theory as well as Revolving Doors’ research and development work on the ground.
There is a clear evidence base to show that good relationships between offenders and their supervisors are important for the identification of needs, ongoing engagement with their sentence, and ultimately for rehabilitation. The research shows that successful supervision requires
In my view, implementing rapid sanctions alone is unlikely to promote reduced drug use or offending. Desistance and recovery rarely involve a simple, linear path to success. If every relapse is met with 5 days in custody, it is hard to envisage how offenders will achieve the long term stability and abstinence required to build a personally fulfilling and law-abiding lifestyle.