A seamless partnership? Developing mixed economy interventions in a non-custodial project for women

Abstract

The movement towards localism, partnerships and governing 'networks' has renewed academic interest in the voluntary sector role in multi-agency work in criminal justice fields. This article argues that strategic partnerships which service systems for managing offenders are organizing into more complex formations which are poised to alter academic understanding of power relationships and roles among partners. Using Adelbart Evers' (2005) concept of 'hybridization', the complexity of service delivery partnerships and the varying interchanges among participating agencies is discussed. The analysis focuses on the start-up and first year of operation of the 'Chestnut Centre', a community-based project for diverting women from custody based in a city in the midlands of England. The results are presented as a case study of participants' reflections on power and legitimacy in the partnership; experiences of collaborative working; approaches towards service users; and perceptions of multi-agency partnerships.

Tackling Crime and Paramilitary Violence: Present Day Challenges for Community-based Restorative Justice Projects

“…State agencies did increase their interactions with the projects but only used services which supported their own work rather than those that acted as an alternative to State service provision. The ability of State and community based organisations to simultaneously hold cooperative and competitive relationships with each other has been identified in previous research (Corcoran and Fox 2012;Mills et al 2012). Positive interagency collaborations can occur when services are perceived as being beneficial to State agencies, but if they compete with State services, State officials can resist referring cases to these services as they attempt to protect their own jobs and position (Rumgay and Cowan 1998;Hedderman et al 2008;Corcorcan and Fox 2012).…”

Health and social interventions in the context of support and control: The experiences of marginalised people who use drugs in Australia

“…The data presented here are part of a larger study investigating consumers’ experiences at a Health Justice Partnership located within a drug treatment service in Sydney. Qualitative methods were chosen because they are well placed to offer in‐depth insight into people's subjective experiences of treatment encounters (Corcoran & Fox, ). As is often the case with qualitative studies on disadvantaged groups, sample numbers are small, in part because difficulties in providing services to disadvantaged groups also make them difficult to involve in research.…”

Nordic and Scottish Civil Society Organisations Working with Offenders and the Effects of Service Delivery: Is Pursuing Mission Impossible Whilst Bidding for Contracts?

“…Subsequently, the respondents from the PESOs presented evident resistance to the institutionalised ideas of professionalism (see Corcoran and Fox ). However, service‐delivery contracts and the need to maintain co‐operation with the public agents had created situations in which some of the PESOs have had to compromise their view of expertise.…”

“…Therefore, allowing other kinds of experts such as professional social workers, to enter the organisations, could be a threat to the aim of empowering ex-offenders: I know some organisations are taking in some experts, but this is a dangerous situation, because when it is coming in experts, you are never going to fill up with the people from the floor, people coming from the shit, people who don't believe in themselves. (X-Cons Sweden) Subsequently, the respondents from the PESOs presented evident resistance to the institutionalised ideas of professionalism (see Corcoran and Fox 2012). However, service-delivery contracts and the need to maintain co-operation with the public agents had created situations in which some of the PESOs have had to compromise their view of expertise.…”