A substantial body of research evidence, known as the “What Works” literature, was influential in the design of the Department’s current sentence management framework. This literature revolved around a number of key principles of correctional rehabilitation which, if adhered to in the design and delivery of services, would reliably lead to reduced rates of re-offending. The principles of effective correctional rehabilitation can be divided into three major domains, namely risk, targets and “responsivity”.
It is now more than ten years since the main features of the existing sentence management framework were adopted. The current review examines new research published over the last decade that relates to these three domains. In doing so, the approach taken was not limited to publications directly aligned with the “what works” paradigm; the goal was to consider all new evidence which related to effective correctional rehabilitation.
Key Results
- The effectiveness of correctional rehabilitation continues to be confirmed through a wealth of published outcome studies.
- Offender risk assessment remains both a valid and valuable procedure in supporting good offender management; a range of new risk assessment tools allows for better targeting of offenders with services.
- Psychologically-based programmes continue to demonstrate robust outcomes in offender rehabilitation.
- Good outcomes are being widely achieved through educational and employment training; provision of education and employment in conjunction with other forms of correctional rehabilitation is likely to bring about the best results.
- Reintegrative services (social supports to released prisoners) can also improve outcomes for offenders who have participated in other forms of rehabilitation, but delivered in isolation these services appear to have limited impact.
- Further evidence is required to validate the effectiveness of culture and faith-based services.
- While poor programme outcomes continue to be reported, these are usually a result of inadequacies in how services are delivered; of particular importance is competence and skill in correctional rehabilitation facilitators.
- The general principle of ensuring a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation, with a range of services addressing the individual’s functioning across all key areas of their life – psychological, educational, employment and social circumstances – is strongly supported.