The impact of corrections on re-offending: A review of ‘what works’
| Author | Iolo Madoc Jones |
| Date | 01 September 2005 |
| Published date | 01 September 2005 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455050505200310 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
effective strategic policy response to the foreign national prisoners for whom it is
responsible. In the meantime, governors and prison-based staff now have an
invaluable tool to improve the circumstances of this disadvantaged group within
their establishments.
Going the Distance: Developing Effective Policy and Practice with Foreign
National Prisoners, by Hindpal Singh Bhui. Published by the Prison Reform
Trust, 2004, £7.50.
Nick Hammond
Diversity Directorate, London Probation Area
The impact of corrections on re-offending: A review of
‘what works’
Against a background of a rising prison population, more severe sentencing, an
increased use of community sentences, and the changes heralded by the 2003
Criminal Justice Act (especially the introduction of the community order), this report
reviews and synthesizes existing knowledge about ‘what works’.
The report finds that much of the evidence has and continues to come from
North America, and there are difficulties generalising these findings to the UK
context. At the same time research into ‘what works’ in the UK has often been
beset by methodological weaknesses, and an over-reliance on two-year reconvic-
tion rates as an indicator of effectiveness. Whilst some very broad generalization
can be made about what works from large-scale meta-analyses, the report
concludes that very little is still known about what works in what circumstances
within the UK. The report argues that if this situation is to improve, UK research in
this specific area should aspire to higher standards of rigour (preferably involving
randomized control trials). In addition yes/no reconviction results should be
supplemented with an evaluation of the impact programmes have had on dynamic
risk factors.
The report explores the factors associated with offending. It finds that problems
with education, employment, accommodation, drugs and alcohol, mental health
and criminal social networks, are regularly associated with the development of a
criminal career. The report makes clear that the relationship between these factors
and offending is often unclear and sometimes equivocal. In some instances there
is evidence of causal relations, in others the relationship is more indirect. Recent
Offender Assessment system (OASys) data however has confirmed that offenders
often have multiple problems, and over the last few years, research has suggested
that the criminogenic needs of men and women differ. The report concludes that
as well as focusing on developing and evaluating single accredited intervention
programmes, the evidence suggests there is the need to develop and evaluate
complex and personalized ‘multi-modal’ packages of interventions that can
address the particular mix of criminogenic factors present in each individual.
The report draws attention to research that suggests the case management
model can facilitate multi-modal working. Important principles associated with
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