Defining Effective Probation: Frontline Perspectives

@article{citeulike:3501216, abstract = {In probation and, in Scotland, in criminal justice social work, the evaluation of effectiveness is fraught with difficulty. Engaging workers in the process of defining effective probation and in developing effectiveness measures is essential if workers are to have any investment in evaluation. The research study reported here attempted to explore workers' definitions of effective probation and found evidence of considerable diversity of opinion on this vital issue. In general though, workers preferred to measure effectiveness in terms of 'outputs' or 'outcomes'2013 reducing reoffending, changing attitudes, increasing victim empathy and alleviating needs. The study concluded that there are some grounds for cautious optimism about the capacity, opportunity and motivation of criminal justice social workers to rise to the challenge that the effectiveness agenda represents. However, effectiveness evaluation needs to be enacted in a pluralistic manner, recognising the ethical and practical complexity of the issue, as well as the diversity of workers' perspectives.}, address = {University of Glasgow}, author = {Mcneill, Fergus}, citeulike-article-id = {3501216}, doi = {10.1111/1468-2311.00177}, journal = {Howard Journal of Criminal Justice}, keywords = {criminal, frontline, justice, probation}, number = {4}, pages = {382--397}, posted-at = {2008-11-10 14:29:48}, priority = {2}, title = {Defining Effective Probation: Frontline Perspectives}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1468-2311.00177}, volume = {39}, year = {2000} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:3501216 L3 - citeulike-article-id:3501216 N2 - In probation and, in Scotland, in criminal justice social work, the evaluation of effectiveness is fraught with difficulty. Engaging workers in the process of defining effective probation and in developing effectiveness measures is essential if workers are to have any investment in evaluation. The research study reported here attempted to explore workers' definitions of effective probation and found evidence of considerable diversity of opinion on this vital issue. In general though, workers preferred to measure effectiveness in terms of 'outputs' or 'outcomes'2013 reducing reoffending, changing attitudes, increasing victim empathy and alleviating needs. The study concluded that there are some grounds for cautious optimism about the capacity, opportunity and motivation of criminal justice social workers to rise to the challenge that the effectiveness agenda represents. However, effectiveness evaluation needs to be enacted in a pluralistic manner, recognising the ethical and practical complexity of the issue, as well as the diversity of workers' perspectives. IS - 4 JF - Howard Journal of Criminal Justice AD - University of Glasgow EP - 397 TI - Defining Effective Probation: Frontline Perspectives VL - 39 SP - 382 KW - criminal KW - frontline KW - justice KW - probation AU - Mcneill, Fergus PY - 2000/// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1468-2311.00177 ER -