Transforming Rehabilitation as ‘policy disaster’: Unbalanced policy-making and probation reform

Abstract

This paper utilizes the notion of 'policy disasters' to examine the policy developments that led to the part-privatization and marketization of probation services in England and Wales-Transforming Rehabilitation. Specifically, it examines the 'internal' component of policy disasters, drawing on semistructured interviews with senior policymakers and other relevant sources. The findings presented demonstrate that the policy dynamics relating to Transforming Rehabilitation specifically, and the departmental budget as an important underlying component, were both distinctly 'unbalanced'. This is argued to be an important explanatory factor in its extremely swift implementation and operationalization. In closing, the paper reflects on the policy studies notion of 'policy equilibrium' to consider whether the policy landscape relating to probation in England and Wales has reached a 'steady state', or whether the ongoing apparent failings of the Transforming Rehabilitation reforms may result in a further round of considerable policy change.

Being a ‘good woman’: Stigma, relationships and desistance

“…Although Transforming Rehabilitation has now taken a political U-turn with contracts ending early circumstance continues to leave Community Rehabilitation Companies relying on precariously funded women’s services (Birkett, 2019). The neoliberal agenda, and an ethos focused on individualised responsibility were key features of what has been defined as policy disaster (Annison, 2019). However, despite the concerns raised privatisation is likely to remain a feature of the re-organisation of probation delivery evidencing the governments persistence in pursuing a model of marketisation (Millings et al, 2019).…”

Finding the Eye of the Octopus: the Limits of Regulating Outsourced Offender Probation in England and Wales

“…14 There is insufficient space to recount the revision from a mixed market approach which "continued to envisage a coherent and wholly public service" to the later version where "localism [and] the continuing centrality of public sector probation of the earlier period shifted dramatically to a form of heavily centralised contracting-out to the private sector". 15 TR offered a seemingly comprehensive solution to a cluster of political exigencies including crime, chronic recidivism (reoffending), supposedly failing public probation (and prison) services, and the cost of crime, for example. The Probation Service was a more vulnerable political target for radical dismantling than more publicly visible services, such as prison or policing.…”

“…18 Grayling pursued probation reforms along the hardest of centralised, marketised lines with singular determination, contrary to the available evidence or advice of his officials and by circumventing protocols for signing off on the national implementation of policies. 19 Trials of the programme and of the payment-byresults system which were held in two prisons (HMP Doncaster and HMP Peterborough) were terminated after interim findings reported marginal impact on reconviction rates, and questioned whether the model could be replicated nationally. 20 The Ministry was subsequently censured for making "a mistake" in proceeding with "reforms without completing thorough piloting".…”

“…23 Interviews with legislators and senior civil servants at the Ministry during this period bring into sharp focus how overdetermined ministerial resolve can "destabilise the system, knocking out the whole system of checks and balances". 24 Annison's ethnographic research with Ministry of Justice officials revealed "the monomaniacal fervour to get probation reforms through", and a culture of unrelenting pursuit of goals despite rational grounds for doubt as to their viability. 25 Yet Annison shows the nuanced approach of public servants who balanced "the delivery perspective" with their traditional civil service code which constrained them from crossing into 'political' decision-making terrain.…”

Therapeutic Jurisprudence and Restorative Justice in Brazil

“…Institutional studies have been concerned with exploring ways in which individuals and organizations innovate, act strategically, and contribute to institutional change (Scott, 2008). In the context of probation, the study of Annison (2019) is an important analysis of how policy is influenced by the dynamics of different actors. However, there is little knowledge regarding the discursive tactics that actors use when they intend to mobilize and align other actors and groups in a field and build a common ground for institutional change (Werner & Cornelissen, 2014).…”