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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
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Results for arts programs
12 results foundAuthor: Johnson, Hanna Title: Unlocking Value: The Economic Benefit of the Arts in Criminal Justice Summary: Re-offending costs the government between £9.5bn and £13bn each year. Two in five adult prisoners are convicted again within a year of release. Yet many charities are successfully harnessing the transformative power of art to help reduce these numbers. The arts have long been used to help rehabilitate offenders or improve the life chances of those at risk of getting involved in crime. There are plenty of stories of people whose lives have been changed by their involvement with arts organisations, yet arts charities traditionally struggle to provide hard evidence of the difference their work makes. The criminal justice sector in particular is often targets-driven, and arts charities working with prisoners and ex-offenders are under increasing pressure to provide evidence of their impact. This report looks at three charities using art to work with prisoners and ex-offenders: Clean Break, Only Connect and Unitas. It calculates the money these charities' work saves the criminal justice system, putting forward the economic case for investment in arts charities. Details: London: New Philanthropy Capital, 2011. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 28, 2011 at: http://www.philanthropycapital.org/publications/community/unlocking_value.aspx Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.philanthropycapital.org/publications/community/unlocking_value.aspx Shelf Number: 123158 Keywords: Art TherapyArts in PrisonsArts ProgramsCorrectional ProgramsInmate Art ProgramsPrisoner Rehabilitation |
Author: Hughes, Jenny Title: Doing the Arts Justice: A Review of Research Literature, Practice and Theory Summary: Doing the Arts Justice: A Review of Research Literature, Practice & Theory was commissioned by Arts Council England, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Offenders’ Learning and Skills Unit at the Department for Education and Skills, as core partners in the Research into Arts and Criminal Justice Think Tank (REACTT). REACTT was established by the Unit for the Arts and Offenders in late 2002, with the aim of establishing partnership research in the arts in criminal justice sector; developing a research programme to distill high quality evidence of outcomes from arts interventions in criminal justice settings; and feeding the results of research back into the development of a coherent evaluation framework for arts activities in criminal justice settings. Researched and written by Jenny Hughes, and Edited by Andrew Miles and Angus McLewin, the review includes chapters on: • What works in preventing offending by young people; • Interventions in custodial and community settings; • Relevance of the arts; • Quality assessment criteria for research design and methodology; • Facilitating re-engagement and attainment in education; • Challenging offending behaviour; • Sponsoring personal and social development; • The impact of the arts on social exclusion; • The impact of arts in the criminal justice system upon society; • Challenging prejudice and raising awareness in the community; • Enhancing and enriching the prison curriculum; • Coping with imprisonment and reducing anger and aggression; • The arts in resettlement; • Arts as a cultural right; and • Arts in prevention. Through surveys, case studies and more, the review demonstrates that "the arts have the capacity and potential to offer a range of innovative, theory-informed and practical approaches that can enhance and extend provision of educational, developmental and therapeutic programmes across the criminal justice sector." Details: London: Arts Council, Unit for Arts and Offenders, Centre for Applied Theatre Research, 2005. 82p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 27, 2012 at: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/D4B445EE-4BCC-4F6C-A87A-C55A0D45D205/0/Doingartsjusticefinal.pdf Year: 2005 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/D4B445EE-4BCC-4F6C-A87A-C55A0D45D205/0/Doingartsjusticefinal.pdf Shelf Number: 126111 Keywords: Arts in PrisonsArts ProgramsCorrectional ProgramsOffender Rehabilitation Programs (U.K.) |
Author: Nuytiens, An Title: Sport, Science and Art in the Prevention of Crime Among Children and Youth Summary: This paper explores theoretical frameworks used for understanding the relationship between leisure activities and the prevention of youth crime. It is examined whether scientific research has yielded empirical support for these theoretical perspectives. This discussion is illustrated by means of examples of good or promising projects for each field (sports, art, science). It is concluded that leisure can be regarded as an important context for youth crime prevention. In practice however, there appears to be little scientific evidence for these mechanisms. Therefore, it is difficult to identify good or promising practices within this field. Details: Brussels: European Crime Prevention Network, 2012. 17p. Source: EUCPN Thematic Paper No. 1: Internet Resource: Accessed September 30, 2012 at http://www.eucpn.org/download/?file=EUCPN%20Thematic%20Paper%20No%201.pdf&type=13 Year: 2012 Country: Europe URL: http://www.eucpn.org/download/?file=EUCPN%20Thematic%20Paper%20No%201.pdf&type=13 Shelf Number: 126511 Keywords: Arts in PrisonsArts ProgramsAt-risk YouthDelinquency PreventionJuvenile OffendersLeisure-Time ActivitiesMentoringSports and Recreation |
Author: Yahner, Jennifer Title: Arts Infusion Initiative, 2010-15: Evaluation Report Summary: In 2010, an ambitious model for social change emerged in Chicago that aimed to connect detained youth and those at risk for incarceration ("at-risk youth") to rigorous and engaging arts instruction, infused with social and emotional learning goals. Dubbed the Arts Infusion Initiative, the Chicago Community Trust ("the Trust") spearheaded and funded this five year, $2.5 million demonstration while earning cooperation from the local detention facility, public school system, community policing office, and community arts program leaders to integrate arts programming into youths' school and after school environments. Since its launch, the Arts Infusion Initiative2 has served more than 2,000 youth at an average annual cost of $700 per teen, linking them to high performing arts instruction associated with significant increases in social and emotional learning. This report marks the first large-scale evaluation of the Arts Infusion Initiative which was designed to: (1) assess the degree to which the project, as an emergent model for social change, was achieving its intended purposes and (2) generate actionable information for promoting effective Arts Infusion practices while redirecting those that have been less effective. To accomplish these objectives, from April to August 2015, the Urban Institute ("Urban"), in consultation with the National Guild for Community Arts Education ("the National Guild"), conducted a multi-method evaluation that drew on the following sources: 1. Five years of Arts Infusion documentation, including arts programs' teaching unit plans for infusing social and emotional skills instruction, proposals and final reports, assessments of youths' social and emotional progress, and knowledge sharing activities, attendance, and participant feedback; 2. Quantitative analysis of the initiative's 2014-15 social and emotional youth assessment data (n=320); 3. More than six dozen (n=73) interviews and focus groups with Arts Infusion instructors, program directors, youth participants, and community stakeholders; 4. An online survey assessing stakeholders' (n=45) perceptions of the initiative, conducted by Urban during the evaluation period; and 5. Observations of more than a dozen Arts Infusion classes, events, and performances, as well as artwork (music, poetry, dance, theatre, and visual art) produced by teen and young adult participants. Together, these data enabled Urban's researchers to investigate key questions about the initiative's evolution and impact. This report presents the evaluation's key findings and recommendations. It consists of six chapters. Following the first chapter's introduction, chapter 2 describes the importance of efforts such as the Arts Infusion Initiative as (1) an emergent model3 for social change, based on the principles of restorative justice and creative youth development and (2) as a means to help improve outcomes for detained youth and youth nationwide who live in at-risk, socioeconomically deprived environments affected by gangs, drugs, and violence. Chapter 3 defines the core components of the Arts Infusion Initiative as they evolved, including the arts activities and objectives of the 14 most recent participating programs and efforts by the Trust to link Arts Infusion practitioners to research guidance by convening knowledge sharing sessions and by funding consultations with an arts assessment expert. Chapter4 details the evaluation methods, research questions, and limitations, while chapter 5 explains the seven key evaluation findings (summarized following this paragraph), along with supportive evidence and examples. Finally, chapter 6 identifies several promising practice recommendations for the next phase of the Arts Infusion Initiative. Seven key findings that emerged from the Arts Infusion Initiative evaluation: 1. Arts Infusion youth participants showed statistically significant and substantial improvements in social and emotional learning skills, as measured by conflict resolution, future orientation, critical response, and career readiness. 2. Arts Infusion teaching artists with strong artistic knowledge and classroom management skills were 3. The Arts Infusion Initiative helped foster co-creations and collaborations between program directors, public schools, community policing, and the detention facility. 4. Arts Infusion knowledge sharing sessions and assessment consultations evolved to effectively provide professional development opportunities and increase the assessment capabilities of program directors and teaching artists. 5. Arts Infusion programs succeeded in exposing at-risk youth to new skills and technologies, providing confidence building experiences that opened their minds to a positive future. 6. Arts Infusion programs experienced challenges connecting to and engaging youth after their release from detention. 7. Arts Infusion programs served nearly 750 at-risk youth in 2014-15 at an average cost of $700 per teen; JTDC based programs cost $600 per teen, and community based programs cost $750 per teen. effective at engaging and inspiring youth. Details: Washington, DC: The Urban Institute; Chicago: Chicago Community Trust; New York: National Guild for Community Arts Education, 2015. 139p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 18, 2016 at: http://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/alfresco/publication-pdfs/2000392-Arts-Infusion-Initiative-2010-15-Evaluation-Report.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/alfresco/publication-pdfs/2000392-Arts-Infusion-Initiative-2010-15-Evaluation-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 138331 Keywords: Arts in PrisonsArts ProgramsAt-Risk YouthDelinquency PreventionDisadvantaged YouthEducational Programs |
Author: University of Manchester. Centre for Applied Theatre Research Title: The impact of Blagg on challenging and reducing offending by young people: An evaluation of a drama based offending behaviour workshop Summary: This independent evaluation highlights the potentially positive contribution drama based projects can make to the development of group work provision for young people at risk of offending. Blagg had most significant impact on young people's awareness of the effect of offending on victims, their awareness of thoughts, feelings and decision making relating to offending and their confidence and self esteem. Increased confidence and self esteem is a frequently reported outcome of taking part in drama - drama provides supervised opportunities to interact with peers and gain recognition and praise. Project description Blagg is a drama workshop developed by TiPP that employs drama tools and techniques to challenge offending behaviour. Six implementations of Blagg within two YOTS in the North West region were evaluated - data from qualitative interviews and questionnaires with participants and staff, observation of the programme and YOT records were collected and analysed. Details: Manchester, UK: Centre for Applied Theatre Research, 2003. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 30, 2016 at: http://www.artsevidence.org.uk/evaluations/impact-blagg-challenging-and-reducing-offending-yo/ Year: 2003 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.artsevidence.org.uk/evaluations/impact-blagg-challenging-and-reducing-offending-yo/ Shelf Number: 139903 Keywords: Arts in PrisonsArts ProgramsAt-Risk YouthDelinquency PreventionRehabilitation ProgramsTheater Arts |
Author: Bruce, Katie Title: Evaluation Report: Community Exchange project between detainees at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre and young people at West London YMCA Summary: The report explores the project's impacts on participants' well-being and resilience, awareness and understanding, and musical skills. Based on observations, questionnaires, interviews and focus groups, it contains a wealth of detail about the creative process and the experience of participants. The report also looks at the project as an example of inclusive practice, examining what made it succeed and what could be done to improve outcomes further. It puts forward a number of recommendations for Music In Detention and the wider sector, broken down into three categories: concept, planning and delivery. This report follows a community exchange that took place during the months of March and April 2015 between detainees at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre, Heathrow and young people at West London YMCA in Hayes. The musicians facilitating this project were: - Yiannis Zaronis, an experienced MID musician originally from Greece. Yiannis is a multi-instrumentalist who specialises in a variety of instruments, including guitar, mandolin, bouzouki and darbuka. - Yiannis was joined for four out of the six sessions by Oliver Seager, a new artist to MID on his first community exchange project. Oliver is a singer songwriter, rapper and producer releasing his own material under his stage name, Kotchin. - For the other two sessions Yiannis was joined by MID musicians Tea Hodzic and Shammi Pithia. This report seeks to profile Music in Detention's approach to working in detention centres and with vulnerable young people; assess the works' musical and social outcomes; and evaluate how this work supports inclusivity in the borough of Hillingdon, including recommendations relevant to the wider arts sector. Details: Bedford, UK: Music in Detention and Sound Connections , 2015. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 1, 2016 at: http://www.artsevidence.org.uk/media/uploads/mid-sc-evaluation-report-final.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.artsevidence.org.uk/media/uploads/mid-sc-evaluation-report-final.pdf Shelf Number: 139906 Keywords: Arts in PrisonsArts ProgramsAt-Risk YouthDetention CentersImmigrant DetentionMusic ProgramsRehabilitation Programs |
Author: Cox, Scott L. Title: Living Shakespeare at the Lansing Correctional Facility, Kansas: Rehabilitation and Re-creation in Action Summary: Living Shakespeare is an all-male, all-inmate theatre program offered under the auspices of Arts in Prison at the Lansing Correctional Facility in Lansing, Kansas. It was founded by Scott L. Cox in September 2011 and has produced four full-length productions of Shakespearean plays to date. The program, inspired by Shakespeare Behind Bars at the Luther Luckett Correctional Center in LaGrange, Kentucky, operates under the belief that participation in a Shakespeare-based theatrical production program offers the inmates opportunities to develop skills necessary to their successful reintegration to society. This dissertation explores the first three years of the Living Shakespeare program with the aim of determining whether the program aids in the prison's stated goal: rehabilitation. The dissertation includes a brief historical account of the development of prison theatre, focusing on the use of Classical and Shakespearean drama with incarcerated populations, culminating in a case study of Shakespeare Behind Bars. The primary case study, which makes up the bulk of this dissertation, is of Living Shakespeare and its ensemble members. The author frames the study as Practice-as-Research (PAR), an approach to performance studies which values performance and theatrical practice as a valid research model. Knowledge is ascertained not solely through an account of the practice but by applying the methodology of ethnography. Observations of the process, field notes, conversations with the participants, questionnaires and interviews all figure into a qualitative analysis of the Living Shakespeare program. The author aims to demonstrate that a Shakespeare-centered theatre process provides the prisoners with the means of attaining twelve specific goals related to rehabilitation and offers rare opportunities for transcendence. Details: Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas, 2016. 316p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed March 12, 2019 at: https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/handle/1808/21835 Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/handle/1808/21835 Shelf Number: 154899 Keywords: Arts in PrisonsArts ProgramsCorrectional ProgramsOffender RehabilitationTheatre Programs |
Author: Gardner, Amanda Title: Prison Arts Resource Project: An Annotated Bibliography Summary: The Prison Arts Resource Project (PARP) is an annotated bibliography of evidence-based studies evaluating the impact of arts programs in U.S. correctional settings. Each of the 48 entries includes information about the arts program as well as the study research goals, methods and a summary of findings. Adult offender and juvenile offender programs are identified. While not an exhaustive list, this collection of annotated impact studies represent publicly available evidence that can be accessed by individuals and organizations seeking to develop their own evaluation or research, or who are seeking evidence of impact for the purposes of program development and policy improvement. Details: Washington, DC: National Endowment for the Arts, 2014. 57p. Updated 2018) Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 12, 2019 at: https://www.arts.gov/sites/default/files/Research-Art-Works-Oregon-rev.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: https://www.arts.gov/sites/default/files/Research-Art-Works-Oregon-rev.pdf Shelf Number: 154900 Keywords: Arts in PrisonsArts ProgramsCorrectional ProgramsOffender Rehabilitation |
Author: California Lawyers for the Arts Title: Arts-In Corrections:: County Jails Project Summary: California Lawyers for the Arts became involved in advocacy to restore California's stellar Arts-in-Corrections programs in 2011, just as the US Supreme Court was requiring the state to reduce severe overcrowding in the state's prisons. In addition to having the nation's largest state prison population, California also claimed one of the highest recidivism rates in the country at nearly 70%. We worked actively with Dr. Larry Brewster of the University of San Francisco and the William James Association to conduct a collaborative demonstration project in several state prisons that involved pre and post surveys of the students. Based on the evidence we gathered at that time, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) was persuaded to provide the California Arts Council with a $2.5 million contract in 2014 for a two-year pilot project providing arts programs in up to 19 state prisons. CLA's Arts in Corrections Initiative, which has received major funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council, the Quentin Hancock Fund, the Wallace A. Gerbode Foundation and the Art for Justice Fund, brings a new level of awareness and appreciation for the value of effective arts programming in correctional facilities. The goal of this multi-year study is to measure the behavioral and attitudinal changes experienced by residents in county jails throughout California and the impact on their lives through self-reported surveys administered at the end of sequential art classes. A third year of support from the NEA Locals program is supporting outreach to additional counties in California and the development of a tool kit for national distribution. In collaboration with art organizations in Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Nevada, Sutter, and Yuba Counties, we evaluated the results of the 10 to 18-week art classes attended by a total of 119 men and women. At the end of each program, the participants completed surveys that were designed by Dr. Larry Brewster of the University of San Francisco School of Public Administration. The art classes were held in Santa Cruz Main Jail, San Francisco County Jail - San Bruno Complex, MCJ Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles, Fresno County Jail, Sacramento County Jail - Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center, Wayne Brown Correctional Facility in Nevada City, Sutter County Jail, and Yuba County Jail. The residents engaged in the arts reported a number of attitudinal and behavioral changes that can improve their lives. In addition to helping the inmates and their institutions, these benefits can extend to their families, their communities, and the society to which they return. Artists engaged in this work benefit from having socially meaningful work that connects them to larger public policy issues. Details: s.l.: The Program, 2018. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 13, 2019 at: =https://www.calawyersforthearts.org/resources/Documents/cla.countyjailsprojectreport.revisedapril2018.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.calawyersforthearts.org/resources/Documents/cla.countyjailsprojectreport.revisedapril2018.pdf Shelf Number: 154933 Keywords: Arts in PrisonsArts ProgramsCorrectional ProgramsJailsOffender RehabilitationRehabilitation Programs |
Author: Wolf, Dennie Title: Our Voices Count: The Potential Impact of Strength-Based Music Programs in Juvenile Justice Settings Summary: Wolfbrown took on an evaluation of the impact of ensemble choral music-making on young people living in one of the most uncertain and stressful environments: the juvenile justice system. The project evaluated a choral residency program from Carnegie Hall's Musical Connections program and was funded through the ArtWorks program at the National Endowment for the Arts. Details: Detroit: WolfBrown, 2014. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 13, 2019 at: http://wolfbrown.com/images/books_reports/documents/ourvoicescount.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://wolfbrown.com/images/books_reports/documents/ourvoicescount.pdf Shelf Number: 154935 Keywords: Arts in PrisonsArts ProgramsDelinquency Prevention (New York)Juvenile CorrectionsJuvenile OffendersMusic TherapyMusical ProgramsRehabilitation Programs |
Author: McHugh, Richard Title: Applied Performance Arts interventions within Justice Services: Moving 'Forward' Toward an Integrated Sustainable Evaluative Approach Summary: The work of Odd Arts focuses on engaging vulnerable groups in arts based programmes who may experience multiple forms of exclusion. This work is largely carried out with and within organisations associated with crime and criminal justice. Much of the work of Odd Arts utilises applied theatre and related performance and creative arts as a mechanism in exploring a range of issues relevant to the lives of beneficiaries. Odd Arts contracted the Manchester Centre for Youth Studies (Manchester Metropolitan University) to carry out a small scale study of the Forward programme within two criminal justice service settings. These two sites included a secure children's home and an adult supported housing project for ex-offenders. 1.2 Methodology -- The research required a multi-method approach, which consisted of the following four strands: i) literature review ii) interviews with young people who participated in the Forward programme within the youth secure estate iii) interviews with youth justice professionals who supported the interventions within the secure estate iv) interviews with adults living in supported accommodation for ex-offenders who participated in the Forward programme v) ethnographic observations of the Forward programme within one youth secure estate venue (secure children's home 1). 1.3 Literature review A literature review was conducted to provide a theoretical basis for the research and this assisted in the development of the research instruments used (interview schedules and ethnographic observation). The literature review examined English language literature published between 1994 and 2017, which focused on: applied theatre within the secure estate; forum theatre; applied arts provision within justice services. 1.4 Interviews - beneficiaries: young people The young people who were available to take part and chose to be involved in the follow up interviews (n. 9) presented a range of opinions about their experiences and perceptions of engaging with the Forward programme. Most prevalent amongst these opinions were themes including: - Appreciating the game elements of the programme - Having a sense of choice and agency within the programme - Opportunity to engage with a larger group of young people beyond the scope of everyday contacts It is important to note that all of the young people had some previous experience of engaging with Odd Arts interventions in some way. Likewise, it is noteworthy that in the follow up interviews, it was apparent that the young people had appeared, to varying degrees, to lose some enthusiasm for the programme. This latter point was a stark contrast to the observed levels of enthusiasm during the delivery of the intervention. 1.5 Interviews - beneficiaries: adult supported housing Interview responses from the adult service users living in the supported housing project closely aligned with those of the young people. Predominantly, respondents from the supported housing project described how they felt that the Forward programme had generally been a positive experience. However, more specifically, the participants described how the programme had significantly raised their confidence levels and provided a meaningful activity, which gave them something to look forward to. Moreover, the participants from the supported housing project explained that engaging in the Forward programme had provided a space in which the residents (who took part) could gain deeper mutual understanding, empathy and mutual peer support. 1.6 Interviews - practitioners: youth justice, resettlement and arts professionals Practitioner interviews yielded some similar themes to those of the beneficiaries. However, practitioners specifically referred to the Odd Arts approach as being unique and highly professional. Without exception supporting staff from within host organisations had complete confidence in Odd Arts and specifically the delivery staff. Additionally, supporting staff (as indicated earlier) were very keen to outline how they perceived huge value and potential in the idea of having an embedded and integrated planning and evaluation process which would be carried out collaboratively between Odd Arts and the host organisation(s). This, they felt, has the potential to further generate positive outcomes for beneficiaries in future interventions. Details: Manchester, UK: Manchester Centre for Youth Studies - Manchester Metropolitan University, 2018. 78p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 14, 2019 at: http://www.artsevidence.org.uk/media/uploads/180213-odd-arts-moving-forward.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.artsevidence.org.uk/media/uploads/180213-odd-arts-moving-forward.pdf Shelf Number: 154966 Keywords: Arts ProgramsAt-Risk YouthCorrectional ProgramsPrison ProgramsTheatre Programs |
Author: Bilby, Charlotte Title: Re-imagining futures: Exploring arts interventions and the process of desistance Summary: This report was commissioned by the Arts Alliance, the national body representing arts in criminal justice. Jointly funded by the Ministry of Justice and the Monument Trust, the Arts Alliance represents a growing network of over 470 arts practitioners and organisations working in prisons and the community to support men, women and young people to lead crime-free lives, through creative interventions. The coalition Government's Transforming Rehabilitation strategy and ongoing austerity measures mean rapid and complex change across the Criminal Justice System. This includes opening up the market, restructuring of the prison and probation service and the introduction of payment-by-results mechanisms to re-offending outcomes. The Transforming Rehabilitation agenda also includes acknowledgement of offenders' complex backgrounds and a call for increased development of offenders' vocational skills to enhance future employability alongside learning opportunities which address responsiveness and diversity issues (NOMS, 2012; MoJ, 2013). This landscape presents huge challenges and potential opportunities for innovative arts projects, which contribute towards the important 'intermediate' outcomes that enable individuals to make positive steps towards effective rehabilitation. This research, along with the growing body of evidence, suggests there are strong reasons to consider arts in criminal justice an area of considerable significance and innovation. Arts practice aims to bring about a positive affect experience in the participant (Parkes & Bilby, 2010). The affective experience, which can include a sense of community cohesion, that time is passing at a different pace, or an improved feeling of self-satisfaction and achievement, can be linked to desistance from crime. Desistance is the process by which people who have offended stop offending (primary desistance) and then take on a personal narrative (Maruna, 2001) that supports a continuing non-offending lifestyle (secondary desistance). Change is not a linear process; rather some will zigzag and will offend again on the journey to secondary desistance. In order for desistance from crime to take place, Giordano, Cernkovich and Rudolph (2002: 999-1002) suggest that there is a four-stage process which includes an openness to change; exposure and reaction to 'hooks' for change (or turning points); imagining and believing in a 'replacement self'; and a change in the way that offending and deviant behaviour is viewed. Maruna (2007: 652) notes that 'desistance is typically understood to be more than just an absence of crime. Desistance is the maintenance of crime-free behaviour and is an - active process in itself- it involves the pursuit of a positive life'. This research considers the possible relationships between the intricate process of abstaining from crime and the influence that taking part in some form of art-based enrichment activity might have on participants. Employing a qualitative methodology, the research addresses a number of questions linked to intermediate steps (or outcomes) in an individual's journey to desistance from crime. The research specifically explores how arts interventions contribute towards enabling people to form positive identities, build new narratives and build positive relationships with peers, staff and family. It also begins to investigate how arts interventions enable people to make significant behavioural changes. The latest National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Commissioning Intentions Document (October 2013) recognises the importance and complexity of these intermediate steps, which may lead to desistance from crime. The research team investigated five arts projects in four criminal justice settings, including practising visual arts in a high security adult male prison; music and deejaying skills with young offenders in the community; a music making project in a resettlement (open) prison and creative writing and bookbinding in a closed female prison. The research team spent at least four sessions with each of the projects observing the activities and interviewing participants, arts practitioners and prison staff as part of an in-depth qualitative methodology. The team also used participants' written work and evaluations, and examples of the work produced in the arts activities. This data was analysed using a thematic, content analysis approach. This piece of research demonstrates a clear link between taking part in arts-based activities and the movement towards secondary desistance. It identifies the importance of arts practice for the participants and shows what types of outcomes successful projects should be producing. The research also highlights the importance of collecting qualitative as well as quantitative data on arts projects and their participants when measuring these changes. Analysis of the data across all five projects produced the following key findings: - Participation in arts activities enables individuals to begin to redefine themselves, an important factor in desistance from crime. - Arts projects facilitate high levels of engagement. This is significant because many individuals in contact with the Criminal Justice System have struggled to engage with productive activities in the past. Participants must engage in order to be able to redefine themselves. Engagement in arts projects has also been shown to lead to greater participation in education and work-related activities. - Arts projects can have a positive impact on how people manage themselves during their sentence, particularly on their ability to cooperate with others - including other participants and staff. This correlates with increased self-control and better problem-solving skills. - Engagement with arts projects facilitates increased compliance with criminal justice orders and regimes. - Arts projects are responsive to participants' individual needs. Current policy documentation on commissioning services to meet offenders' needs highlights the importance of responsiveness in meeting diverse needs. The status of arts practitioners as professional artists is highly significant in the success of projects and their impact on participants. The value of this should not be underestimated by agencies of the Criminal Justice System when considering using external organisations. - Arts projects provide safe spaces for individuals to have positive experiences and begin to make individual choices. The findings from this research clearly indicate that arts projects can contribute to an individual's journey to desistance. The findings highlight key outcomes for participants and the importance of the relationships with project facilitators. There is now a need for longitudinal research, combining both qualitative and quantitative methods, to assess how far the findings presented here are sustained in the long term. Details: London: Arts Alliance, 2013. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 25, 2019 at: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/16846/1/Re-imagining_Futures_Research_Report_Final.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/16846/1/Re-imagining_Futures_Research_Report_Final.pdf Shelf Number: 155161 Keywords: Arts ProgramsCorrectional ProgramsDesistanceMusic TherapyMusical ProgramsOffender RehabilitationRecidivismRehabilitation ProgramsWriting Programs |