BJSW Critical Commentary: What Works in Probation Offender Management: evidence for a new direction?"

The effectiveness of probation supervision towards reducing reoffending: A Rapid Evidence Assessment

“…Both proponents of the RNR and the GLM models argue that there are similarities or overlaps between the two models (e.g. Ward andMaruna 2007 andAndrews et al 2011a). However, the extent and nature of the overlap is contested (e.g.…”

“…Maruna, 2001;McNeill, 2006;Sampson and Laub, 1995) and instead the rehabilitation of offenders has been viewed persistently through the lenses of retribution and control, due to external political pressures and the dichotomous relationship between policy and practice. Furthermore, Ward (2008) argues that overemphasis on 'What Works' principles, to which the OMM are central, may have directed attention away from literature that seeks to understand the mechanisms within which supervision is expected to deliver outcomes. Although the 'What Works' paradigm is widely regarded legitimate and substantial, it is suggested that the OMM may require a "variation of its existing theme, a paradigm modification rather than a paradigm change" (Ward 2008, p.403).…”

“…For example, in England and Wales, the Offender Management Model (OMM) sets out expectations of those responsible for managing offenders, including a specification of the standards and performance measures that form the basis for development (NOMS, 2005). Ward (2008) suggests that developments have been less influenced by empirical literature that discusses desistance (e.g. Maruna, 2001; McNeill, 2006; Sampson and Laub, 1995), and instead the rehabilitation of offenders has been viewed persistently through the lenses of retribution and control, due to external political pressures and the dichotomous relationship between policy and practice.…”

“…Furthermore, Ward (2008) argues that overemphasis on ‘What Works’ principles, to which the OMM are central, may have directed attention away from literature that seeks to understand the mechanisms within which supervision is expected to deliver outcomes. Although the ‘What Works’ paradigm is widely regarded legitimate and substantial, it is suggested that the OMM may require a ‘variation of its existing theme, a paradigm modification rather than a paradigm change’ (Ward, 2008: 403).…”

“…Furthermore, Ward (2008) argues that overemphasis on ‘What Works’ principles, to which the OMM are central, may have directed attention away from literature that seeks to understand the mechanisms within which supervision is expected to deliver outcomes. Although the ‘What Works’ paradigm is widely regarded legitimate and substantial, it is suggested that the OMM may require a ‘variation of its existing theme, a paradigm modification rather than a paradigm change’ (Ward, 2008: 403). Some commentators argue that underpinning the shift in practice towards ‘What Works’ is a new managerialism, which has led to a growth in ‘surveillance work’, an approach that ‘places an emphasis on monitoring and enforcing compliance with the rules or supervision and the detection of violations leading to revocation and return to custody (Seiter and West, 2003: 5).…”