Evaluations
Write to be Heard: Supporting Offender Learning through Creative Writing
The report explores the impact of a creative writing programme developed to engage ‘hard to reach’ learners in prison. The mechanism was a creative writing competition, incorporating a schedule of workshops in 28 prisons, encouraging entrants to write pieces for broadcast on National Prison Radio (NPR). Using qualitative and quantitative ... read on →
Musical Pathways: an exploratory study of young people in the criminal justice system, engaged with a creative music programme
118 young people engaged in a participatory music programme across eight youth justice settings in England and Wales. The research objectives were to [1] investigate meanings and values young offenders attribute to music, their relationships with music, and its significance to their health, wellbeing, lifestyle and social status; [2] observe ... read on →
The Melting Pot: Evaluation
A three-year creative writing and mentoring project working at the DSPD Unit, HMP Frankland. The report shows how the project contributed to the overall well-being of men in the Unit and contributed to the rehabilitation programme. Section 2 includes a Replicability Model and the development of performance indicators and an ... read on →
Re-imagining futures: Exploring arts interventions and the process of desistance
Carried out by Northumbria University and Bath Spa University, this report highlights examples of how the arts can support positive changes linked to personal agency, efficacy and identity, which are linked to the highly individualised journey of desistance from criminal behaviour. Key findings show that participation in arts activities enables ... read on →
Developments in the HM Prison Service and Safe Ground Family Man programme, and the Safe Ground Network during 2007-8: An independent review
The purpose of this evaulation was to examine the developments Safe Ground had made to one of its prison interventions, Family Man, and to the Safe Ground network during the period 2007-08 following recommendations made in previous reviews. It utilised semi structured qualitative face to face interviews, telephone interviews and questionnaires ... read on →
Evaluation of the Miss Spent Programme 2008
PPRG were commissioned to evaluate the Miss Spent programme from January 2006 using a multi-method research design including interviews and focus groups and documentary analysis. The evaluation considered: • the impact of the project on participants; • the contribution made to tackling offending behaviour and the causes of youth crime; ... read on →
The Arts in Criminal Justice: a Study of Research Feasibility
A feasibility study examining the practical, logistical and methodological issues involved in carrying out effective research on the impact of arts interventions in criminal justice settings. Rather than producing evidence of project outcomes, this study addresses the issue of what constitutes good quality research and evidence in this context and, ... read on →
Dance Included: dance in social exclusion contexts
An action research project that explored models of good practice in dance and social exclusion though six ACE funded dance-led projects that aimed to tackle problems associated with social exclusion. Growing out of the Art of Inclusion report (2004) and in turn feeding into the good practice guide Dance Included: ... read on →
Doing the Arts Justice: A Review of Research Literature, Practice and Theory
The first comprehensive review examining the effectiveness of the arts in criminal justice settings, particularly the use of arts in the prevention of crime, in custodial and community sentencing, and resettlement. Starting with a strategic literature review of relevant worldwide practice from 1997 through to 2003, it then goes on ... read on →
