Offenders in Focus : Risk, Responsivity and Diversity

A great deal has been written about developing effective practice against a backdrop of rapid change in criminal justice services. Much of this is research-oriented and not always accessible to practitioners in their day-to-day work. This book changes that.

Drawing on research and integrating this with practitioner experience, the book creates fresh, research-based 'practice wisdom' for engaging effectively with offenders. It explores issues of risk, responsivity and diversity in the context of work with specific offender and offending behaviour groups as a means to highlight those skills and understandings which can be used across the wider range of work environments. The authors break down complex ideas to enable practical application, and each chapter includes questions for reflection and practice development.

With its accessible style, balancing academic rigour with clear pointers to best practice, this book will interest everyone working face to face with offenders. It recognises that there are no instant solutions to changing offending behaviour but provides a practice text that will encourage a sense of competence and confidence, enhancing readers' skill and enthusiasm when working with a broad spectrum of offenders.

Kathryn Farrow works at the University of Birmingham, teaching and researching into anti-social behaviour and crime reduction.

Gillian Kelly runs KWP, a training consultancy designing and delivering training for, amongst others, the Youth Justice Board and The National Offender Management Service.

Bernadette Wilkinson runs KWP, a training consultancy designing and delivering training for, amongst others, the Youth Justice Board and The National Offender Management Service.