The importance of organisational factors in transferring the principles of effective intervention to offender rehabilitation in the real world

Dominic Pearson

The importance of organisational factors in transferring the principles of effective intervention to offender rehabilitation in the real world

International Centre for Research in Forensic Psychology

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

Abstract

A key threat to proponents of rehabilitation in criminal justice is that of disappointing results due to problems in transferring effective practice from research to ‘real world’ routine delivery. A potential responsivity factor impacting on an offender’s readiness to engage with and benefit from treatment is the organisational capacity of an institutional or community forensic service. While internal readiness refers to the offender’s mental preparedness, external readiness refers to staff, setting and management characteristics. After reviewing programmatic prerequisites, this chapter reviews evidence on the importance of these external readiness factors as mediators of successful outcome. Their influence is exemplified with discussion of the results of the present author’s application, in two different environments, of an evidence-based community supervision programme. The chapter concludes with recommendations for research and practice in rolling out effective interventions in criminal justice environments.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Transforming environments and rehabilitation
Subtitle of host publication	A guide for practitioners in forensic settings and criminal justice
Editors	Geraldine Akerman, Adrian Needs, Claire Bainbridge
Place of Publication	Oxford
Publisher	Routledge
Chapter	19
Pages	348-370
Number of pages	22
ISBN (Electronic)	978-1-315-66081-3
ISBN (Print)	978-1-138-95911-8, 978-1-138-95912-5
Publication status	Published - 2 Jan 2018

Publication series

Name	Issues in Forensic Psychology

Keywords

reducing reoffending
training transfer
forensic psychology
offender rehabilitation
community corrections

Access to Document

Probation staff reflective practice: can it impact on outcomes for clients with personality difficulties?
Pearson, D. & Molino, S. D., 14 Oct 2025, Reflections on Probation: A Companion Resource for Developing Practitioners. Grant, J., Haggar, L. & McDermott, M. (eds.). 1st ed. Policy Press, p. 44-62 19 p.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review
Evaluation of the citizenship evidence-based probation supervision programme using a stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial
Pearson, D., McDougall, C., Kanaan, M., Torgerson, D. & Bowles, R., 2 Jun 2016, In: Crime & Delinquency. 62, 7, p. 899-924 26 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
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444 Downloads (Pure)
Reducing criminal recidivism: evaluation of Citizenship, an evidence-based probation supervision process
Pearson, D., McDougall, C., Kanaan, M., Bowles, R. & Torgerson, D., 2011, In: Journal of Experimental Criminology. 7, 1, p. 73-102 30 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

File
876 Downloads (Pure)
Parable of two agencies, one of which randomizes
Pearson, D., Torgerson, D., McDougall, C. & Bowles, R., Mar 2010, In: The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 628, 1, p. 11-29 19 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

File
305 Downloads (Pure)

Ministerial Research Liaison
Pearson, D. (Presented paper)
20 Feb 2018
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course

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Cite this

Pearson, D. (2018). The importance of organisational factors in transferring the principles of effective intervention to offender rehabilitation in the real world. In G. Akerman, A. Needs, & C. Bainbridge (Eds.), Transforming environments and rehabilitation: A guide for practitioners in forensic settings and criminal justice (pp. 348-370). (Issues in Forensic Psychology). Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Transforming-Environments-and-Rehabilitation-A-Guide-for-Practitioners/Akerman-Needs-Bainbridge/p/book/9781138959125

Pearson, Dominic. / The importance of organisational factors in transferring the principles of effective intervention to offender rehabilitation in the real world. Transforming environments and rehabilitation: A guide for practitioners in forensic settings and criminal justice. editor / Geraldine Akerman ; Adrian Needs ; Claire Bainbridge. Oxford : Routledge, 2018. pp. 348-370 (Issues in Forensic Psychology).

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abstract = "A key threat to proponents of rehabilitation in criminal justice is that of disappointing results due to problems in transferring effective practice from research to {\textquoteleft}real world{\textquoteright} routine delivery. A potential responsivity factor impacting on an offender{\textquoteright}s readiness to engage with and benefit from treatment is the organisational capacity of an institutional or community forensic service. While internal readiness refers to the offender{\textquoteright}s mental preparedness, external readiness refers to staff, setting and management characteristics. After reviewing programmatic prerequisites, this chapter reviews evidence on the importance of these external readiness factors as mediators of successful outcome. Their influence is exemplified with discussion of the results of the present author{\textquoteright}s application, in two different environments, of an evidence-based community supervision programme. The chapter concludes with recommendations for research and practice in rolling out effective interventions in criminal justice environments.",

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Pearson, D 2018, The importance of organisational factors in transferring the principles of effective intervention to offender rehabilitation in the real world. in G Akerman, A Needs & C Bainbridge (eds), Transforming environments and rehabilitation: A guide for practitioners in forensic settings and criminal justice. Issues in Forensic Psychology, Routledge, Oxford, pp. 348-370. <https://www.routledge.com/Transforming-Environments-and-Rehabilitation-A-Guide-for-Practitioners/Akerman-Needs-Bainbridge/p/book/9781138959125>

The importance of organisational factors in transferring the principles of effective intervention to offender rehabilitation in the real world. / Pearson, Dominic.
Transforming environments and rehabilitation: A guide for practitioners in forensic settings and criminal justice. ed. / Geraldine Akerman; Adrian Needs; Claire Bainbridge. Oxford: Routledge, 2018. p. 348-370 (Issues in Forensic Psychology).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

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Pearson D. The importance of organisational factors in transferring the principles of effective intervention to offender rehabilitation in the real world. In Akerman G, Needs A, Bainbridge C, editors, Transforming environments and rehabilitation: A guide for practitioners in forensic settings and criminal justice. Oxford: Routledge. 2018. p. 348-370. (Issues in Forensic Psychology).

The importance of organisational factors in transferring the principles of effective intervention to offender rehabilitation in the real world

Abstract

Publication series

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Research output

Probation staff reflective practice: can it impact on outcomes for clients with personality difficulties?

Evaluation of the citizenship evidence-based probation supervision programme using a stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial

Reducing criminal recidivism: evaluation of Citizenship, an evidence-based probation supervision process

Parable of two agencies, one of which randomizes

Activities

Ministerial Research Liaison

Cite this