Developing creative methodologies: using lyric writing to capture young peoples’ experiences of the youth offending services during the COVID-19 pandemic
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-10-2021-0059 |
| Published date | 12 April 2022 |
| Date | 12 April 2022 |
| Pages | 105-119 |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology |
| Author | Dean Wilkinson,Jayne Price,Charlene Crossley |
Developing creative methodologies: using
lyric writing to capture young peoples’
experiences of the youth offending
services during the COVID-19 pandemic
Dean Wilkinson, Jayne Price and Charlene Crossley
Abstract
Purpose –The COVID-19 lockdowns (2020–2021) disrupted all aspects of usual functioning of the
criminal justice system, the outcomes and impact of which are largely still unknown.The pandemic has
affectedindividuals across the wider society, this includesa negative impact on the social circumstances
of children andyoung people involved within youth offendingservices (YOS) (Her Majesty’s Inspectorate
of Probation, 2020; Criminal Justice Joint Inspectorates, 2021). This population frequently represents
those frommarginalised circumstances and are rarely giventhe opportunity to participate meaningfullyin
the services they are involvedin. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of the young
people servingorders with the YOS during Covid19 lockdownsand requirements.
Design/methodology/approach –This paper outlines a creative methodology and method used to
uncover the experiencesand perceptions of young people undergoingan order within a YOS during the
COVID-19 lockdowns.The arts-based approach entailed a noveland creative method using a lyric artist
to engage with young people through a virtual platform, supporting them to create lyrics about their
experiencesof the YOS during this time.
Findings –The artist developed a successful rapportwith young people based on familiarity with, and
passion for,music. He promoted their strengths, improvingtheir confidence which was perceivedto elicit
more in-depthperspectives that might not haveotherwise been obtained using moretraditional methods.
As such, the methodand methodology outlined developed the young people’ssocial and communicative
skills whilst producingmeaningful feedback that can contribute to the YOS recoveryplan and thus future
of the service.
Practical implications –This paper reports on a novel arts-basedresearch methodology, implemented
to capturemeaningful data from participants during the COVID-19pandemic.
Originality/value –This paper reports on a novel arts-based research methodology, implemented to
capturemeaningful data from participants duringthe COVID-19 pandemic.
Keywords Music, Young people, Participatory, COVID-19, Arts-based methodologies,
Creative methodologies
Paper type Research paper
Art-based activities and the criminal justice system
Creative, art-based activities and projects have an established and complex history of work
within the criminal justice system (Cox and Gelsthorpe, 2012). However, the arts, and
particularly music-based projects, have been recognised for the as sociated benefits that they
provide to individuals in the criminal justice system (Caulfield et al.,2016;Cox and Gelsthorpe,
2008;Henley et al., 2012;Wilkinson and Caulfield, 2017). Specifical ly, in the prison
Dean Wilkinson is based at
the Institute of Policing,
University of Chester,
Chester, UK. Jayne Price is
based at the Department of
Social Sciences,
Criminology, University of
Chester, Chester, UK.
Charlene Crossley is based
at the Institute of Policing,
University of Chester,
Chester, UK.
Received 5 October 2021
Revised 8 February 2022
14 March 2022
Accepted 15 March 2022
Funding: This project was
funded by the University of
Chester Covid19 QR Funding
call.
DOI 10.1108/JCRPP-10-2021-0059 VOL. 8 NO. 2 2022, pp. 105-119, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2056-3841 jJOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRACTICE jPAGE 105
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