Trish McCulloch

Probation, social context and desistance: Retracing the relationship

This article reports on the findings of a small-scale Scottish study which drew on participant perspectives to explore the attention given to probationers’ social contexts in supporting desistance from crime. In light of findings from previous studies which suggest that recent developments in the design and delivery of effective programmes have contributed to a neglect in attention to offenders’ social contexts, this article presents a more optimistic picture whilst providing some insight into how desistance-focussed interventions can more effectively assist change in this area.

Working with sex offenders in context: Which way forward?

This article explores the context and content of behaviour change interventions with sex offenders, giving attention to the contemporary climate, evolving theoretical frameworks and practice realities. Recognizing the highly charged nature of policy and practice in this area, and the potential therein for conformist and collusive practices, the article argues for the adoption of a more candid and critical approach to the development and delivery of policy and practice in this area.

Realising Potential: Community Service, Pro-Social Modelling and Desistance:

Recent attention to the question of ‘what works?’ in supporting desistance, coupled with the emergence of a number of research studies which suggest that Community Service (CS) might be effective in reducing recidivism, has contributed to growing interest in the rehabilitative potential of CS. Informed by this context, this paper reports on the findings of a small scale Scottish study which set out to evaluate the impact of pro-social modelling training on the practice of CS supervision within a local authority team. The study indicates that the training had a positive impact on CS supervision — most accurately described as a validation or development of existing approaches. However, the findings also highlight areas of limitation in training impact and, in doing so, present a rationale for attending to a number of key areas if CS is to realise its potential and assist offenders in their efforts towards desistance.

Co-producing justice sanctions? Citizen perspectives:

This article is about the place of those sentenced in criminal justice sanctions. Specifically, it reports on the findings of a co-productive qualitative inquiry that sought to explore the place and possibility of service user co-production within justice sanctions, drawing on the experience of people with convictions. The conclusion of the article is that participation and co-production matters in justice sanctions. The detail and implications of this conclusion are discussed.

Beyond compliance: Participation, co-production and change in justice sanctions

This article explores the place and potential of a more participatory and co-productive justice practice, using the particular lens of compliance. In recent years, compliance has come to be associated with new managerial and correctional forms of justice. Yet, emerging theoretical and empirical analyses attest that individual compliance is a complex and multi-dimensional dynamic. It is not particularly responsive to mechanisms of enforcement and control, and where enforced compliance is achieved it does not emerge as a particularly valuable justice outcome. These findings, and others, suggest the relevance of a more co-productive justice pursuit – one that recognises and supports the participation, potential and progression of those required to comply.

Creating spaces for change: Engaging civil society to harness change in criminal justice practice:

In a context of neoliberal penality, crime is falling yet prison populations continue to rise. Governments profess to recognise the problem yet have had little impact on underlying trends in criminal justice practice. This article reports on a Scottish initiative to try and disrupt this cycle through broadening the base for deliberation upon justice matters to include civil society. In so doing, we sought to build upon an emerging civic engagement evident in the wake of the 2014 Independence Referendum. Our premise was that to effect change requires that we look beyond policy fixes to the values and the socio-cultural drivers that take practice in particular directions. We conclude with a reflection on the obstacles to change.