Treatment of offenders : the delivery and sequencing of interventions

This thesis investigates the issues of treatment programme effectiveness and issues surrounding programme implementation such as the sequencing of interventions. Chapter 1 presents a historical account of the issue of offender rehabilitation and provides a critique of studies into the effectiveness of treatment programmes delivered in the UK. Regression analyses are used in Chapter 2 to investigate the predictive value of criminogenic needs, and the impact on reconviction levels of having a need met through the completion of a relevant treatment programme. Results highlighted the predictive validity of static risk factors over dynamic factors and indicated a lack of effectiveness of treatment programmes. Findings are discussed with reference to methodological limitations and the potential impact of programme implementation issues. Chapter 3 provides a review of the literature on the programme implementation issue of the sequencing of interventions. Studies investigating the process of behavioural change in offenders are reviewed; issues such as readiness to change and the impact of level of motivation to change are discussed with reference to the sequencing of a set of interventions. The views and experiences of violent and sex offenders regarding programme implementation issues are reported in Chapter 4. The desire for coherent sequencing of interventions is expressed by the majority of offenders and concerns are noted regarding a lack of communication with staff. The issues of responsivity to the needs of the individual offender and motivation to change are highlighted as impacting upon engagement with interventions. Chapters 5 and 6 report the views of treatment facilitators and Offender Supervisors and Managers regarding the sequencing of interventions. Staff recognised readiness to change issues and highlight the importance of the coherent sequencing of interventions. The results are discussed with reference to current practice, research limitations, and recommendations for further research.