Developing digitally enabled interventions for prison and probation settings: a review
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-08-2017-0030 |
| Pages | 134-140 |
| Date | 14 May 2018 |
| Published date | 14 May 2018 |
| Author | Jason Morris,Manpreet Kaur Bans |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Forensic practice,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Law enforcement/correctional,Public policy & environmental management,Policing,Criminal justice |
Developing digitally enabled interventions
for prison and probation settings: a review
Jason Morris and Manpreet Kaur Bans
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to highlight some initial efforts within Her Majesty’s Prison and
Probation Service (HMPPS) to develop digitally enabled services supporting the rehabilitation of service
users. It is not designed to set out either HMPPS policy on digital rehabilitative services or the position of
HMPPS Interventions Services on this subject. Rather, it is a short exposition of the authors’views on the
potential of digitally enabled strategies to enhance interventions in forensic settings. In this context, the
authors will also describe the development of the first digitally enabled rehabilitation service accessed via
HMPPS in-room computer terminals.
Design/methodology/approach –The authors have reviewed current literature and outlined how the
authors have and are aiming to add to this area of work.
Findings –This general review outlines the authors’views on the potential of digitally enabled strategies for
improving interventions in forensic settings.
Originality/value –This paper is a short exposition of the authors’views on the potential of digitally enabled
strategies to enhance interventions in forensic settings. In this context, the authors will also describe the
development of the first digitally enabled rehabilitation service accessed via HMPPS in-room computer
terminals.
Keywords Forensic, Rehabilitation, Computer-assisted therapy, Technology-enhanced learning,
Complementary digital media, Digital learning, Digital prisons, Digitally enabled interventions, Timewise,
Violence reduction
Paper type General review
This paper reviews efforts to develop digitally enabled rehabilitative services in forensic settings.
In the paper, we provide a review of digitally enabled psychotherapeutic strategies, design
principles for the development of complementary digital media (CDM), and related research
opportunitiesavailable within Her Majesty’sPrison and Probation Service(HMPPS). In this context,
we describe the development of the first digitally enabled rehabilitation service accessed via
in-room computer terminals.
NB –this paper is not designed to set out HMPPS policy on digital rehabilitative services nor the
position of HMPPS Interventions Services on this subject.
The evolution of a digitally enabled intervention
In 2016, the Prison Safety and Reform White Paper set out proposals designed to enable prisons
to become places of safety and rehabilitation (MoJ & NOMS, 2017). One of the many initiatives
referred to in the paper was the Timewise programme. This ten-session cognitive behavioural
therapy (CBT)-based offending behaviour programme (OBP) aimed to assist self-management
amongst people engaged in custodial violence. The Timewise programme was piloted in six
custody sites and delivered by existing OBP facilitators on a one-to-one and group basis.
The approach of the Timewise programme was commensurate with the Good Lives Model of
rehabilitationwhich suggests that aperson can reduce their risk of reoffending by acquiringskills to
appropriatelyobtain desired “Goods”(Laws and Ward,2011). Similarly, the risk-need-responsivity
approach to rehabilitation advocatesthe use of CBT to help participants develop skills to change
Received 10 August 2017
Revised 21 September 2017
27 September 2017
Accepted 28 September 2017
Jason Morris is a National
Specialist Lead in Domestic
Violence Interventions and
Manpreet Kaur Bans is a
Interventions Training
Specialist/Forensic
Psychologist in Training both
at Her Majesty’s Prison and
Probation Service,
London, UK.
PAGE134
j
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE
j
VOL. 20 NO. 2 2017, pp. 134-140, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8794 DOI 10.1108/JFP-08-2017-0030
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