What Works in Probation and Youth Justice

Both probation and youth justice are at a critical point in their history, and are increasingly required to provide evidence of their effectiveness. Yet it is only relatively recently, following major reforms and reorganisation of these services, that systematic investigation into what works has been made integral to policy and practice.This book reviews developments in evidence-based practice within both probation and youth justice, bringing together the findings of research projects commissioned by the Home Office, the National Probation Directorate and the Youth Justice Board. Overviews of progress are provided by leading managers working in the field, while contributions by academic researchers discuss developments, findings and implications in the following areas:+ tools and approaches in the assessment of needs and risks+ educational, basic skills and employment interventions+ offending behaviour programmes+ intensive supervision and surveillance+ desistance-focused one-to-one practice+ community service and pro-social modelling+ resettlement support and opportunities+ evidence-based inspectionWhat Works in Probation and Youth Justice will be essential reading for anybody involved in probation and youth justice policy and practice, or for those taking courses in these fields. All the issues addressed in this book will be highly relevant to the developing agenda and plans of the new National Offender Management Service (NOMS)

Kerry Baker (MA/DipSW) joined the Centre for Criminological Research and Probation Studies Unit in 1997 Maggie Blyth (MA, PGCE) is Head of Practice at the Youth Justice Board Ros Burnett (DPhil) is a Research Fellow in Criminology at the University of Oxford Centre for Criminological Research Cedric Fullwood (CBE, MA) was Chief Probation Officer from 1982 to 1998 of Greater Manchester Probation Service Loraine Gelsthorpe (MPhil, PhD) is a Senior University Lecturer at the Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge and a Fellow at Pembroke College Ilona Haslewood-Pocsik (PhD) qualified as a lawyer and lectured in criminal law at Szeged University, Hungary, for five years Geoff Hayward (DPhil) is a Lecturer in Education Studies at the University of Oxford and an Associate Director of the ESRC Research Centre on Skills, Knowledge and Organisational Performance (SKOPE) Christine Knott (CBE, MA) has an MA in psychology and physiology from Somerville College, Oxford. In 2003, she was awarded a CBE for her work in Probation Grainne McMahon (MSSc) joined the Centre for Criminological Research in August 2000 Simon Merrington (MA, MSc) has been an Associate Member of the Probation Studies Unit at the Centre for Criminological Research since 2001 Robin Moore (MA, PhD) is a Research Officer at the Centre for Criminological Research and Probation Studies Unit Rod Morgan (PhD) was Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Probation for England and Wales from 2001 to March 2004 and is now the Chair of the Youth Justice Board Helen Powell (MA) is responsible for managing the Youth Justice Board's research programme. Peter Raynor (PhD) is Professor of Applied Social Studies in the School of Social Sciences, University of Wales, Swansea Sue Rex (LLB, PhD) is a Senior Research Associate at the Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge Colin Roberts (MA) is a Fellow of Green College, University Lecturer in Probation Studies and Head of the Probation Studies Unit Martin Stephenson (PhD) is Director of Social Inclusion at the Nottingham Trent University