Abstract
This is the first issue of the Probation Journal in 2020. Since the last issue of the journal was published the United Kingdom has voted in a new government and it has left the European Union. The topic of Brexit has consumed the body politic in the 3 years since the referendum vote in June 2016, with the result that much of government work has been consumed with this issue. The election manifestoes of the different political parties all spoke to a need to refocus attention on the domestic agenda, and the topic of law and order was notable by its prominence alongside commitments towards investment in health services and education. The Conservative Party has committed to increasing the numbers of police, extending prison sentences for certain offences and increasing the number of prison places in England and Wales, despite the fact that this country currently has one of the highest rates of imprisonment in Western Europe (Aebi and Tiago, 2019). Tragically, the issue of law and order came to further prominence in a terror attack during the election campaign, where Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt were murdered at a Learning Together conference in central London on 29th November. The aftermath of this terrible event led to media debates about the utility of rehabilitation and further politicisation of law and order, despite criticisms from the families of the victims to not use their deaths in this way. Writing in the Guardian, Dave Merritt, the father of Jack Merritt wrote: He would be seething at his death, and his life, being used to perpetuate an agenda of hate that he gave his everything fighting against. We should never forget that. What Jack would want from this is for all of us to walk through the door he has booted down, in his black Doc Martens. That door opens up a world where we do not lock up and throw away the key. Where we do not give indeterminate sentences, or convict people on joint enterprise. Where we do not slash prison budgets, and where we focus on rehabilitation not revenge. Where we do not consistently undermine our public services, the lifeline of our nation. Jack believed in the inherent goodness of humanity, and felt a deep social responsibility to protect that. Through us all, Jack marches on.
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This edition of the journal contains a number of important articles that we hope will be of interest to practitioners and policymakers. Maria Ansbro’s (2008) article exploring the relevance of attachment theory for work with adults in probation practice was published over 10 years ago in the journal, and it remains one of the most highly read articles. Over time attachment theory and related concepts have gained increasing prominence in probation practice. This issue of the journal contains an article by Clark Baim providing an overview of Crittenden’s ‘Dynamic-Maturational Model of Attachment and Adaptation’ and its relevance for probation practitioners. Traditionally, attachment concepts have been considered most relevant to children’s psychosocial development. Baim’s article outlines some of the key theoretical ideas underpinning the Dynamic-Maturational Model (DMM) developed by Patricia Crittenden based on her work with parents of children who were subjects of child protection concerns. The article outlines the potential for the DMM to assist in understanding behaviour in a strengths-based, non-stigmatising way, while recognising the potential for change. Indeed, as Baim explains, the term ‘Dynamic Maturational Model of Attachment and Adaptation’ is specifically intended to ‘reflect the potential of adaptive strategies to change within individuals across their lifespan’.
Other articles in this issue explore aspects of practice that have gained increasing prominence in recent years, including work with peer mentors and social enterprise employment-based schemes. The article by Sarah Nixon explores the role of peer mentors, ‘ex-offenders working in the criminal justice system’. In contrast to other studies which have explored the role of peer mentors in relation to their impacts on the people they are mentoring, this article reflects on how being a peer mentor impacts on the mentor’s identity. Nixon’s article identifies some of the difficulties experienced by peer mentors including how they are perceived by other colleagues, and their ‘liminal’ position within the criminal justice system. Rebecca Oswald’s article reports on research carried out in an employment programme for young people who had been in contact with the youth justice system. The importance of identity and the use of terminology is also highlighted. This article notes that the potential benefits of employment programmes in which young people perceive their work as having value, and where they are viewed as ‘workers’ rather than ‘offenders’.
This issue also contains an article by Kristel Beyens and colleagues, which reports on research carried out with Sentence Implementation Courts in Belgium. These courts deal with prisoner release and decision-making regarding recall to prison when licence conditions are breached. The issue of recall to prison, so-called ‘back-end’ sentencing, has been one of the contributory factors in the rise in the prison population in many countries, and it is an area that has received insufficient research attention to date. This research shows that in the Belgian case, the judges working in the Sentence Implementation Courts demonstrate a commitment towards prisoner reintegration and that they see any problems along the way as part of the complicated journeys and difficult trajectories for some. This nuance is important, and it demonstrates the value of in-depth research of this nature and points towards the utility of comparative research. We hope you enjoy this issue of the journal and as ever, we welcome your feedback.