Opportunity, Motivation and Change: Some Findings From Research on Resettlement (From What Works in Probation and Youth Justice: Developing Evidence-Based Practice, P 217-233, 2004, Ros Burnett and Colin Roberts, eds. -- See NCJ-207633)

• NCJ Number: 207645
• Author(s): Peter Raynor
• Date Published: 2004
• Length: 17 pages
• Sale Source: Willan Publishing
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This chapter reports on the implementation and evaluation of Great Britain's Pathfinder (pilot) projects in offender "resettlement."

Abstract

The term "resettlement" was not defined when it was introduced in a British Home Office 1998 report, but its use in practice suggests that it encompasses crime elimination/reduction, integration, and prosocial behavior, among other positive behaviors characteristic of a responsible citizen. In addition to a variety of meanings for "resettlement," there are also various models of how to provide a resettlement service. This chapter focuses on two varying approaches to resettlement called an "opportunity deficit" model, which views offenders as engaging in criminal behavior because they have been deprived of resources and opportunities, and the "offender's responsibility" model, which views various criminogenic conditions confronting the offender as challenges that offenders can overcome through responsible choices and behaviors. These differing models of resettlement were reflected in the resettlement Pathfinder projects. This chapter reviews the short-term outcomes of the seven projects in reducing crime. The findings suggest that challenging offenders to use their personal resources and become accountable for their decisions and behaviors in the face of difficulties is more likely to reduce offending than attempting to modify the socioeconomic conditions and opportunities that face offenders. 4 tables and 37 references