NCJ Number
207633
Editor(s)
Ros Burnett,
Colin Roberts
Date Published
2004
Length
293 pages
Annotation
Based on papers presented at a colloquium, "Towards Evidence-Based Practice in Probation and Youth Justice," held July 31-August 1, 2003, in Oxford, England, the chapters of this volume describe and discuss achievements in probation and youth justice in Great Britain, with attention to efforts to base program development on the findings of evaluation research.
Abstract
The first chapter reviews the emergence and importance of evidence-based probation and youth justice, followed by a chapter that traces key developments in the British Probation Service that have transformed it into an evidence-based service that relies on lessons learned from pilot ("Pathfinder") programs. The third chapter outlines the Youth Justice Board's (YJB's) strategy for developing effective practice for reducing reoffending by juveniles. YJB's commitment to research and evidence-based practice is seen in the range of achievements described. A chapter then explains the evolution and use of assessment tools in probation, followed by a companion chapter that describes the development of the assessment tool used for youth justice. A chapter then focuses on the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral programs in British prisons and in adult probation services, based on evaluations of these programs. The ninth chapter reviews previous research into and evaluations of intensive supervision in the community, and chapter 10 examines the effectiveness of one-to-one casework with offenders, which focuses on the impact of positive interactions with offenders in helping them to desist from crime. Remaining chapters consider the development of responsible citizenship for offenders who complete community service orders, the lessons learned from the Pathfinder Resettlement Project, and the structure for ensuring that best practices are followed in the Probation Service under the inspectorate program. Chapter tables, figures, and references