Models of Intervention

This chapter explores models of intervention that can be used to address offending behaviour

Welsh Prisoners in English Jails

This paper presents the results of research into the experiences of prisoners from Wales incarcerated in England. The context for the research is first set and the relevance of language and identity in Wales are explored. The results of a research project conducted in 2005 with 181 prisoners from North Wales held in an English Jail is then presented. Their responses to a postal questionnaire exploring their perceptions about their treatment and their experiences are detailed. The paper highlights that a subset of Welsh prisoners- and primarily those who are Welsh speaking, problematise their incarceration in England. The reasons given for this are explored. The paper concludes with some observations about the implications of the research for penal practice with Welsh prisoners in England and Wales

Indigenous people, language and criminal justice: the experience of first language Welsh speakers in wales

This article examines the commitment of the criminal justice system (CJS) for England and Wales to respond to the needs of the largest territorially bound linguistic minority group in the UK - Welsh speakers in Wales. The article contextualizes the experience of the Welsh speakers historically, making links with the experience of other indigenous national linguistic minorities worldwide. The importance of language choice is discussed and the reality of linguistic choice within the CJS in Wales is explored in a small scale study with probation staff. Their responses to a brief questionnaire indicate that language choice is not a reality for the majority of Welsh speakers in Wales. The judicial and rehabilitative consequences of this lack of choice are explored. It is argued that a focus on non-discrimination in policy and practice at the international and national level, the vagueness of linguistic rights legislation and the centralization of the CJS in the UK leads to the oppression of Welsh speakers offenders in the criminal justice system in Wales. This article proposes that a passive approach to language choice for indigenous linguistic minorities like the Welsh is unacceptable and that a proactive commitment to linguistically sensitive practice should be adopted on the basis of social justice, equal opportunities and to effectively engage with offenders to protect the public. Nine principles for effective criminal justice practice with Welsh speakers in Wales are proposed which it is argued, have wider applicability with indigenous/substate national linguistic communities worldwide

Welsh Language, Identity & Probation Practice: The Context For Change

This article draws upon the historical context of the oppression of the Welsh language within the UK, makes links with recent incidents in the public domain, and research on the experiences of Welsh speaking probation staff. The authors argue that linguistically sensitive practice is necessary, not just on the basis of equal opportunities, but also to effectively engage with offenders and protect the public. They then set out the reasons why the National Probation Service (and indeed the wider criminal justice system) must develop a fully bilingual service in Wales. Nine key principles are proposed to bring about a change in policy and practice

Interrogating the prevention approach of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 for people with mental health needs who are homeless

Rates of homelessness and poor mental health present significant challenges across the globe. In this article, we explore how these intersecting issues have been addressed in Wales through Part 2 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 through a paradigm shift towards a prevention model. This article reports findings from a study (conducted between 2016 and 2018) which evaluated the processes and impacts of the Act against the backdrop of welfare reform and systemic changes taking place in Wales and the UK. Using new evidence, we offer a critical examination of how homelessness prevention policy operates in practice and how social values and power affect policy implementation. We offer new evidence of the translation of policy into practice through the experiences of two stakeholder groups: people with mental health needs and service providers. In doing so, we offer a critique of how policy and practice could be modified to improve outcomes for homeless people with implications for prevention policy in Wales and in other contexts and different welfare regimes

Women’s Safety Service within the Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme: Perceptions of Service Users

This paper draws on the findings of a qualitative evaluation that examines women's perceptions of the services provided to them whilst their abusers attended an Integrated Domestic Violence Programme (IDAP) in one probation area in the UK. Research focusing on domestic violence programmes has mostly concentrated on the experiences of male perpetrators. As a result, less is known about how women feel about such programmes and the parallel safety services they are supposed to receive. This research seeks to address that weakness by exploring the perceptions of 13 women whose abusers are attending one perpetrator programme. The findings of our study suggest that women are generally negative about perpetrator programmes and require more comprehensive and coordinated services than are routinely made available to them. The paper suggests that women value and need direct and assertive support as well as safety services, and this need is especially pronounced in rural contexts where women can be isolated from mainstream services. The implications of the research to practice with victims of domestic violence are discussed to inform further development of IDAP and similar programmes in the UK and beyond

Independent domestic violence advocates: perceptions of service users

This paper draws on the findings of a qualitative evaluation that examines user perceptions of the services provided by an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) to victims of domestic violence in one rural local authority area in the UK. Service users described being reluctant to report experiences of domestic violence but, having done so, finding the involvement of the IDVA invaluable in being able to provide them with the independent advice, information and emotional support that they would not otherwise have received. Although in general they were positive about IDVAs, users could also identify problems due to the telephone-based nature of the advocacy that was offered and the duplication of services that sometimes occurred. This paper argues that an IDVA provides an important service to victims of domestic violence, which is likely to be particularly valuable in rural locations. However, the terms of reference for the role need be reviewed in order to maximise the contribution that IDVAs can make

"Dangerous conversations”: a case study involving language

Purpose Drawing on the approach of Bourdieu (1977, 1986), and using language as an exemplar, the purpose of this paper is to engage in a “dangerous conversation” to explore how and why issues of diversity were mobilised, ignored and leveraged in one particular service context. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative research exploring the language choices of 25 service users who had been processed through the criminal Justice System in Wales in the last five years. Findings The argument is made that in some service contexts, a habitus obtains that renders reflexivity about diversity issues problematic and predicates against the critical reflection necessary to promote anti-oppressive practice. Research limitations/implications Small sample size, not generalisable. Practical implications The authors intend the paper to encourage greater reflection on instances when diversity issues are raised and to render simplistic any attempt to invalidate claims of discrimination. Social implications Encourage dialogue about claims of discrimination and greater reflection by service providers about the legitimacy of such claims. Originality/value Anti-oppressive theorising has, for the most part, constructed minority group members as passive victims within hierarchical power relationships. While acknowledging how power is unequally distributed, the paper challenges hierarchical models which designate minority group members as bereft of power

Assessing and addressing domestic abuse by Ex-armed service personnel

In the context that separate peer-led services are increasingly being developed to meet the needs of Ex-armed service personnel (Ex-asp) in the criminal justice system, we explore whether such services should also be developed to address any tendencies towards domestic abuse. Based on interviews with 12 imprisoned Ex-asp and 10 service affiliated informants working with them, we found domestic abuse is not always recognised as a potential problem for Ex-asp. Nonetheless, respondents suggested that interventions to address the potential for domestic abuse by some Ex-asp would be useful and legitimate if they are provided by those with service affiliations. Considering our findings, however, we strike a note of caution about separate and peer-led approaches becoming the default option for working with Ex-asp in the criminal justice system. We suggest the gendered nature of military culture may be associated with concerns about the implications of re-engaging Ex-asp with their military identities. Moreover, being steeped in military culture, we suggest that without training some service affiliated staff may be unsighted on important aspects that the role gender expectancies play in domestic abuse and poorly placed to respond appropriately to this type of offending

Prison building ‘Does size still matter?’: A Re-Assessment

This paper synthesises existing work and extends empirical knowledge about the possibilities attendant on building bigger prisons in England and Wales. This follows on from an announcement in 2013 that a 2,100 inmate prison (HMP Berwyn) would be built in North Wales. Moreover a statement by the Justice Secretary, Michael Gove, that ‘ageing and ineffective’ Victorian jails would be sold off to fund larger replacement prisons.1 To that end it is salutary to note that in 1980 44,000 people were held in prisons and young offender institutions in England and Wales and that this number was described by the sitting Home Secretary as dangerously high.2 This is because by October 2015 a neo-liberal inspired popular penalty had gone on to inflate the prison population to 86,727.3 The social and economic costs attendant on imprisoning large numbers (and proportions) of people hardly needs further exploration. They have been amply poured over and debated in this and other journals as well as in media and political circles. Comparatively speaking, however, the practical management implications of the policy of mass incarceration has received less attention. As increasing numbers of people have been imprisoned, the prison estate has aged and contestability between the public and private sector has become the norm, the question of how the prison estate should be structured and managed to ensure prisoners ‘are treated humanely, decently and lawfully’ has become more salient