Editorial
| Published date | 05 December 2016 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-09-2016-0019 |
| Pages | 229-230 |
| Date | 05 December 2016 |
| Author | Jane L. Ireland,Philip Birch |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology |
Jane L. Ireland and Philip Birch
Welcome to the final edition of the JCRPP for the year. The edition presents a range of
papers, both in terms of content and format, also presenting the first offering of a new paper
format for the journal –the brief research report. We hope the latter will stimulate interest in
both readers and authors who are keen to explore a more focussed format of presentation that
brings attention immediately to the core issues an author is trying to convey.
The edition commences with a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) on intrafamilial child sexual
abuse, which seeks to provide not only an outline of the state of the research field, but, an
indication of where gaps lie. REA as a methodological approach appears to be developing
increased interest beyond disciplines. The current paper demonstrates the value of such an
approach in providing an efficient outline of the gaps in knowledge and areas that perhaps
require immediate focus from the research and practitioner community. Indeed, the authors
report the value of the REA in providing a basis for a new inquiry, demonstrating well the true
application that is possible with review-based work.
Continuing with the theme of approach and analysis is the second paper; the first brief report
published in the JCRPP. This brief report focusses on the evaluation of cognitive skills
programmes for male offenders. The paper may initially seem to have a message of “cognitive
skills can be effective”, but on further examination the core message is actually one of
questioning the approach to analysing treatment effectiveness in more specialist populations
(i.e. offenders). There appear to be some methods of analysis that are being promoted within the
field (e.g. clinical change and reliable change) that may not in fact apply that well to the population
under study. Indeed, this paper argues more for a notion of positive improvement in a client as
opposed to recovery, the latter of which appears to have a basis in medical interpretations and
physical health. Beginning to question the application of what appears to be routinely applied
methods is thus important and perhaps an activity that should be engaged in to a greater extent.
Next is a preliminary study combining methods and sources to provide an outline of violence
within prisons. Combining survey data with an incident data set, the research demonstrates the
lack of faith that prison officers seem to have in the post-incident system, namely the
repercussions for prisoners’assaulting staff. This is a paper of topical interest since forensic
services have a number of different approaches to deal with staff assaults, which include keeping
the punishment in-house to taking the matter to external Courts. The latter does not always
occur and there seems to be a degree of in-house assessment of severity that takes place. The
implications of this for those working in high-risk environments are significant since the message
that is then given to actual and potential perpetrators is one of potential leniency. The paper
points to a need for more research and a more directed management approach regarding how
violence towards staff is addressed, which includes consideration of prosecution featuring higher
in the process of decision making.
Continuing with a theme of management and approach to staff is the ensuing paper that
presents a case study approach to document the changes in public complaints and the use of
force by the police. The authors describe the range of possible influences that may have served
to reduce the number of complaints in more recent years, citing the inclusion of a more rigorous
complaints system, early prevention, improved means of review (both internal and external), and
improvements to training and policy. Essentially what this case study approach demonstrates is
the importance of procedure and ensuring that this is rigorous, revised when required, seen to be
thorough, responsive, and not “secret”. The importance of transparency presents as a core
message, along with ensuring a more preventative approach is taken that incorporates training.
The paper not only presents a convincing argument for such approaches, but also an outline of a
very good example of case study methodology that is thorough, responsive to the available data,
and recognises well the limitations within this.
DOI 10.1108/JCRPP-09-2016-0019 VOL. 2 NO. 4 2016, pp.229-230, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2056-3841
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JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRACTICE
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Editorial
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