Is there evidence to suggest that CBT interventions work

Is in that location read to suggest that CBT interventions blend inThis evaluative report critically re expectations re reckon base evidence on the effectiveness of cognitive deportmental therapy (CBT) interventions in the context of Criminal Justice. This involves evaluation of a number of studies which atomic number 18 part of the so-called What Works? hop onnda (McGuire, 2005) which aims to curtail reoffending and support probation lapse. It is found that the evidence for CBT is supportive of its use but that its effectiveness raise be dependent on several factors such as family relationship between the probationer and worker, while CBT programmes may mask the real life difficulties which probationers experience.KeywordsProbation, offender, desistance, neighborly context, research, what works, evidence-based utiliseIntroductionThis evaluative report critically reviews research based evidence on the effectiveness of cognitive demeanoral therapy (CBT) interventions in the context of Criminal Justice. The principle of CBT as an intervention is to diversify the offenders attitudes and behaviour by exploitation cognitive behavioural techniques. These methods focus on considering and changing thinking in order to avoid patterns of behaviour that can lead to re-offending (Andrews, 1995). I am before long a Criminal Justice worker and have chosen the role of CBT as a practice intervention in probation for several reasons.The longstanding mount to criminal behaviour across criminal justice systems has been imposition via the courts of punishment such as financial penalty or loss of liberty. Whilst this delivers retribution, punishment does non necessarily reduce levels of crime (Hollin, 2002) and an alternative is offender reclamation for which there is room for development. This approach seeks to bring about individual change in the offender and to reduce the likliehood of committing further crimes.Studies reviewed are part of the so-called What Works? research agenda which aims to investigate how to reduce reoffending and support probation inspection. The What Works approach to offender rehabilitation has been written about since the 1980s and outcome evaluations indicate that this approach may have a small but arrogant effect in reduce reoffending (McGuire and Priestley, 1995). The What Works research publications indicates that cognitive behavioural interventions produce the greatest effect (Vennard, Hedderman and Sugg, 1997 Hollin, 1999 Cooke and Philip, 2000 Redondo, Sanchez-Meca and Garrido, 1999).In policy terms, probation in Scotland differs greatly from that in England and Wales. This has been due to political, legislative and cultural changes which have occurred in the last thirty years and much recently in 1991, the introduction of 100% funding and National Objectives and Standards (NOS).In well-heeled of these issues/factors, the specific question guiding the search for lit is Is there evidence to suggest that CBT interventions work in probationary practice?The search for evidence to anticipate this question involved the use of databases ASSIA, Planex Cambridge and Disc everywhere. Specific journal databases were also consulted using word searches. These included The Howard journal, Probation Journal, Criminology and Criminal Justice Journal and British Journal of friendly Work. This search yielded the most appropriate and relevant research studies pertinent to the question.Literature ReviewThis section critically reviews 6 studies. One reports on a frugal domain within which service users considered their ideal model of the hearty worker (Barry, 2000). Three studies were qualitative (Rex, 1999 McNeill, 2000 and McCulloch, 2005) while the remaining two were reviews of literature (Vanstone, 2000 and Stanley, 2009). The evidence is reviewed chthonian several key themes.What contributes to the effectiveness of CBT?As an approach to working with offenders, cognitive behavioural mo dification presumes that people who offend are shaped by their purlieu and have failed to acquire certain cognitive skills or have learned inappropriate ways of behaving, thinking is impulsive and rigid as hostile to flexible. cognitive difficulties are learned rather than innate in people who offend.The pursuit of effectiveness in the delivery and development of fellowship based disposals has been observed over the last three decades. Although, there has been progress in what is effective in supporting desistance from crime through researchers, practitioners and government ministers to bring theoretical knowledge to practice research, policy and practice highlights that knowledge and success still remains in development. Recognising the breadth of academic and empirical literature in exploring this subject, the review is deliberately hold and draws on the effectiveness research and desistance literature.Each of the studies describe a brief history of What Works in probation. Th e premise was that cognitive behavioural programmes would deliver reductions of between 5 and 10 per cent in reoffending. The evidence for this proposition was based largely on American and Canadian research and meta-analyses of relatively small surpass studies (Lipsey, 1992). Research studies suggested that not sole(prenominal) was prison ineffective in bring down recidivism, but also that welfare approaches to crime reduction was ineffectual, intrusive and repressive (Newburn, 1995 Her Majestys Inspectorate of Probation, 1998). forward to the introduction of the NOS in the early 1990s, little research into offenders views of supervision had been undertaken prior to the introduction of these Standards, which were informed more by the findings from research into what works from the academic or practitioners bakshish of view than by concern with the under address notion of what works from the offenders point of view. However, the what works principles (which inform NOS) are being adopted end-to-end the various strands of work with offenders. Three of these principles are problematic when it comes to offenders views about supervision which are risk classification, criminogenic needs and responsivity. Several of the studies were chosen as part of this literature review as they researched workers and offenders views and it will be argued that a more flexible approach needs to be adopted in relation to these principles before offenders themselves can fully benefit from supervision.With regards to the four studies carried out three involved workers being interviewed through semi-structured interviews (Rex, 1999 McNeill, 2000 and McCulloch, 2005) and one solely with probationers (Barry, 2000). Rex and McCullochs studies also involved semi-structured interviews with probationers as well as with workers. The two reviews of literature discuss what research has already been done.The research explored the characteristics of probationers on supervision, documented the services of such supervision in meeting offenders needs and reducing the risk of further offending. In order to promote analytic generalisability a random sample was constructed (Robson, 1993, pp.138-139) to enable proportionate representation in terms of gender, age and geography and two of the studies specified that all the respondents were uninfected. The studies varied in size six workers and 6 probationers (McCulloch, 2005), twelve workers (McNeill, 2000), sixty-five probationers (Barry, 2000) and sixty probationers and twenty-one workers (Rex, 1999). The two reviews of literature looked at numerous national studies. This allowed the writer to have a wide and varied consensus of effectiveness outcomes.Offenders PerspectiveAcross all of the studies, the majority of probationers understood the intention of probation and their officers were seeking, through a variety of means, to reduce the likliehood of re-offending. Few probationers regarded probation as purely a monitoring ex ercise, although the majority view was to keep them from offending over half(prenominal) expected their mixer workers to be proactive in helping them to address their problems and for probation to be more constructive than punishing. In relation to those who wanted help with problems or issues, many inferred that not re-offending was a precondition to receiving such help. (Rex, 1999 Barry, 2000 and McCulloch, 2005). in that respect was a general consensus that affectionate workers could not stop people from offending but could only help to minimize the risks through support of a more tangible and constructive nature. Even for those respondents who considered re-offending to be a possibility, there was a majority view that it was up to the individual to refrain from future offending. However, probationers attributed changes in their behaviour to their supervisory experiences was the active and participatory nature of those experiences which was one of the features of effective com munity programmes previously identify by McGuire (1995).Probationers seemed aware of the efforts required to move a decision to stop offending and were more willing to embark where they felt a commitment to and positively engaged in the supervisory relationship. The research carried out is conflicting with regards to personal engagement by probation officers. Over 3/4 of probationers referred to the need for probation officers to demonstrate empathy, and 1/2 reported that their supervisors ability to listen, show interest and understanding enabled them to open up. Yet, 1/2 also said that they appreciated more formal aspects of the supervisory relationship, 1/3 found a certain metre of distance helpful and 1/2 wanted to be treated with respect in the sense of not being judged or patronised.In showing respect, experience and knowledge probationers viewed their probation officer as taking them seriously, were able to disclose sensitive tuition and took on board what their probation officers said. Nearly 1/2 of respondents reported that the quality of the relationship with their social worker would not affect their success or nonstarter within the order, however, an equal number felt that a poor or negative relationship with their social worker could have had an impact of their ability to write out their order successfully. There were no significant differences in toleration levels between young and adult offenders. The majority stated that if they had not got on well with their social worker, they would not have turned up for appointments or co-operated in other ways and would have had tokenistic involvement.The majority of probation respondents stressed the need to pop off to know the individual, background, interests, problems and/or issues and aspirations to be able to actively help resolve any difficulties. The most plebeian thread in the studies reviewed was finding out what the problems were in an attempt to get to the root cause of the offending. Mo st of the respondents saw their offending behaviour as a force of other social or personal difficulties and that the cause itself e.g. unemployment was addressed as opposed to just the effects (offending behaviour).Offending behaviour is prominent on the minds of people who have been on community based supervision and who are asked about their views about its effectiveness, and this has been demonstrated in the studies where offenders views of supervision has been sought. However, there are other problems which equally, or more importantly, need to change through social work support which must come from the offenders themselves.Workers perspectiveWorkers who were interviewed both individually and in concourses (Rex, 1999 McNeill, 2000 and McCulloch, 2005) were offered a range of potential measures of effectiveness and rate them accordingly to which they considered most relevant in judging effectiveness in probation cases. These measures were selected to encompass a wide range of p ossibilities based on effectiveness agenda, probation policy and literature and reflect cling to bases for probation (Nellis, 1995). Some workers expressed that they saw managers as concerned only with efficiency (numbers game), sentencers as sometimes caring, especially when vulnerability had been identified, policy makers as interested in value for money, the public protection agenda, reduced offending and the desire to avoid adverse publicity. In general workers identified success with outcomes such as supervision action plans fully and successfully implemented, achieving reduction or cessation in offending by tackling underlying needs and/or problems and improvements. (Rex, 1999 McNeil, 2000 Vanstone, 2000 McCulloch, 2005).Outcome measures such as reducing reoffending, changing attitudes, increasing victim empathy and reducing probationers needs were more important to Scottish workers than order compliance in contrast to an earlier study undertaken by Humphrey and Pease (1992) however, these findings have to be treated with caution, given the small scale of the samples and range of scores for each possible measure shows a lack of consensus amongst workers. There was dissatisfaction with forms of monitoring which, in the past, had focused on quantitative measures which was also indentified in Humphrey and Peases (1992) study.As discussed earlier, most probationers saw their offending behaviour as a consequence of other social or personal difficulties and this was also recognised by workers and several of the studies provide a clear rationale for attending to the broader social contexts in which offenders live and change. The studies underline the inter-relationship between these key contexts and the need for workers to support the composite plant process of desistance by addressing all of these areas (McNeill, 2000 Rex, 1999). It is also suggested that there is a reticence amongst offence focused probation managers and staff to locately address family r elated obstacles, social and environmental factors or other underlying issues (McNeill, 2000 Barry, 2000 McCulloch 2005).Rex (1999) identifies the relational element of supervision and the importance of probationers legal opinion valued and engaged in the supervision process although most probationers valued guidance and advice on how they might resolve social and personal problems rather than direct operable assistance. In contrast, Barry (2000) interpreted focus on probationers social problems as a weakness as this is seen to reflect a welfare as opposed to an offence focussed approach to intervention.Although workers believed that probation should address social problems which mirrored that of probationers, a minority expressed ambivalence on this issue relating it to organisational pressures, challenges of addressing social problems and a more robust view of what probation was about (McNeill, 2000 McCulloch, 2005). This view corresponds with the current professional climate o f narrow targets, high caseloads and changing professional values and this is neither surprising or difficult to defend. However, in light of what probationers identify as important in desisting from crime it poses a problem if probation hopes to demonstrate effectiveness in assisting probationers to achieve and sustain desistance from offending.Methods used to address probationers social problems generally reflect the findings from wider probation research which identify the use of talking methods, referrals to other agencies and direct support as the most common methods to address probationers problems (Rex, 2009 McCulloch, 2005).What seemed evident from all of the studies was a construction of effectiveness which, while aiming for both offence and need-related outcomes, lays significance on both process and progress.What Works and perpetrateThe supervision of offenders is increasingly adopting a conclavework approach using predominantly cognitive behavioural methods which are s een to effectively reducing offending behaviour. The appeal is based on research into North American groupwork programmes (Lipsey, 1992). This in turn informed the guiding principles of NOS. It can be argued that groupwork programmes often operate in a vacuum and ignores the wider social problems affecting offenders and does not differentiate between individual group members risk levels and needs. However, not all offenders have any or similar, problems other than their offending behaviour and even the causes and consequences of, and future risk associated with, that behaviour can be interpreted differently between offenders. Community supervision devoid of a wider focus could be viewed as a component of change from assimilation and incorporation to separation and exclusion and this criticism is aimed more at the implementers than the authors of the model who do stress the importance of addressing broader structural problems (Young, 1998 cited in Vanstone, 2000).Changes in the way t hat probation officers are trained have increased fears about de-professionalisation and cognitive behavioural programmes equally are seen to contribute to the corruption of the role into the application of techniques devised by someone else (Pitts, 1992 cited in Vanstone, 2000) although it could be argued that this contributes to a form of professionalism already missing. This practice could also undermine anti-discriminatory practice as it reduces sensibility to the needs of women and ethnic minorities. Similar to other community supervision initiatives, the development of these programmes has only taken into account the needs of men and not those of women. Therefore, an awareness of what should change should be taken into account to ensure thoughtful and reflective diversity.Overall, the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural programmes is based on completion effects. Programmes are long and complex with rules about participants dropping in and restarting and this in theory, me ans that only the full programme will be effective in bringing about cognitive and behavioural change. In contrast, those who do not complete the full programme are less possible to change. The only review that specifically addressed group work programmes was Stanley (2009) and he reviewed other reviews (undertaken in England and Wales) to come to his conclusions. He judged that there was positive conclusions for cognitive behaviour programmes and drug treatment to reduce re-offending but there was weak evidence for the effectiveness of domestic abuse programmes, employment and basic skills training, intensive supervision and unpaid work and they were unlikely to have a positive effect on re-offending. For four types of intervention the National Audit Office (NAO) judged, there was insufficient evidence to suggest that although there might be a positive impact the evidence was not hale enough , mainly due to the low quality of research to show or validate strong positive effects ( Davis et al., 2008)A main piece, although flawed, evidence is an analysis by National Offender Management Systems Research Development and Statistics Directorate (NOMS RDS) of outcomes of predicted and actual reconviction range for accepted programmes by the probation service in 2004 (Hollis, 2007). This was based on 25, 255 cases but 6,000 had to be excluded due to poor quality data. It would be fair to say, that there was diverge (although not reported) within the analysis as both offender compliance and quality of programme delivery are positive factors the bias in the endurance was towards successful programmes and outcomes. There was also no comparison group and this was a major weakness in the report.The report compared actual with predicted reconvictions for offenders engaged in the accredited programmes. It is possible that the amount of cases sentenced to accredited programmes but failed to start were not recorded and the report understates the rate of dropout. Only 40 per cent completed the programme which is well 1/2 of the target of 70 per cent set in the original What Works strategy but those who completed were considerably less likely to re-offend than expected and did better than those who did not complete. Allowing for the biases, this looks a positive result and demonstrates the impact and effectiveness of accredited programmes. However, not all programmes were equally successful such as Domestic Violence programmes which in general failed to show a significant reduction in reconviction. Conversely, anger management, sex offender and general offending behaviour programmes showed in excess of 10 per cent reduction in reconviction of cases analysed.There is an assumed opposition between What Works and individual work with offenders. Work by Chapman and Hough (1998) placed cognitive behavioural programmes within the context of desistance and individual casework. The use of targets could be seen to undermine as an unintended consequence as it has led to an speech pattern on completing the group element in programmes at the expense of the quality of engagement with individual offenders.ConclusionThe findings of these studies confirm a considerable amount of evidence from both desistance and effectiveness literature about the circumstances offenders may be encouraged to cease re-offending. A recurring theme to emerge from probationers accounts is the bother sustaining a life free from crime. This explains why the professional agenda in addressing offending behaviour and minimizing risk needs to be balanced with the offenders agenda of addressing practical concerns. Equally important is the need to develop a close and trusting relationship between the service user and worker as is possible within the continual shift of Criminal Justice policy. If this relationship is not accepted as influential and the offenders own agenda recognised, then social work supervision could appear to service users to be alienating and irrelev ant and consequently open to criticism, non-cooperation and failure.One major flaw of the What Works agenda is the narrowing of practice in cognitive behavioural approaches and the limited utility of standardised programmes with minority groups of offenders. There is an assumption that female and non-white offenders are fitted into programmes that have been demonstrated to be effective with white males.It is increasingly evident that What Works operationalised through accredited programmes is not the only or entire solution and the challenge is to develop the strengths that are there, build on new and diverse understanding of offenders and link these to the literature on intervention effects to enhance knowledge of what works when, for whom and under what circumstances.AppendixThe search for evidence to address this question involved the use of databases ASSIA, Planex Cambridge and Discover. Specific journal databases were also consulted using word searches. These included The Howar d Journal, Probation Journal, Criminology and Criminal Justice Journal and British Journal of Social Work. This search yielded the most appropriate and relevant research studies pertinent to the question.PaperAimsMethods used to collect dataFindingsRelevance of evidence to answering search questionRex, S (1999) Desistance from Offending Experiences of Probation. The Howard Journal, 384, pp.266-383To make connections between two different research fields the What Works? literature on the effectiveness of community programmes in bringing about a reduction in reoffending and the criminal careers literature, the discussion of the wider social processes by which people themselves come to stop offending.Qualitative Semi-structured interviews with a group of probationers.Reports on the extent to which probationers who were interviewed linked their experiences to a reduction in their offending and considers the implications for how probation officers might be able to motivate and assist mo ves towards law-abiding conduct.Examines desistance from the point of view of a group of probationers and their supervisors.McNeill, F (2000) Defining Effective Probation Frontline Perspectives. The Howard Journal, 394, pp. 382-397The research study attempted to explore workers definitions of effective probation.Qualitative semi-structured individual and group interviews.Evidence of considerable diversity of opinion. Generally workers preferred to measure effectiveness in terms.Cautious optimism about the capacity, opportunity and motivation of criminal justice social workers to rise to the challenge that the effectiveness agenda represents.Barry, M. (2000) The Mentor/Monitor Debates in Criminal Justice What Works for Offenders. British Journal of Social Work, 30, pp.575-595Views from probationers and ex-prisoners about social work supervision in England, Scotland and Wales.Literature Review drawing on a range of studies from last five years.Robinson, G (2001) Power, Knowledge and What Works in Probation. The Howard Journal, 40 3, pp.235-254To examine the To To examine the implications of what works in the context of probation, both at the level of professional practice and the broader level of the power base as a wholeMcCulloch, T (2005) Probation, Social Context and Desistance Retracing the RelationshipA small scale Scottish study which draws on participant perspectives and explore the aid given to probationers social contexts in supporting desistance from crime.Qualitative -small scale research studyStanley, S (2009) What Works in 2009 Progress or Stagnation? Probation Journal, 56 2, pp153Reviews evidence produced on the effectiveness of evidence-based interventions (What Works) and in particular cognitive behavioural programmes.