New research into the practical and methodological issues involved in assessing the impact of the arts in criminal justice settings has identified a basic conflict of ethos between arts and criminal justice organisations as one of a number of barriers to building effective relationships between two sectors. The report concludes that, the limitations imposed by structure, culture and context mean that it is simply not possible to do the kind of research into the impacts of arts interventions in criminal justice settings that would meet the types and standards of proof favoured by the Home Office.
The research, prepared by Andrew Miles and Rebecca Clarke from the University of Manchesters Centre for Research on Socio Cultural Change, was commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Arts Council England and the Department for Education and Skills against the backdrop of a move towards evidence-based policy and practice in the criminal justice arena. A recent Home Office review has resulted in the establishment of a set of standards for research quality, which the arts in criminal justice sector currently has great difficulty in meeting. The report asserts that a key obstacle to this is the ambivalence of both the criminal justice system and arts organisations towards evaluation. However, where robust evaluation of the impact of the arts did take place, it was found that projects brought about positive shifts in engagement, self-esteem, confidence, self-control and the ability to co-operate& and that arts-based interventions may benefit vulnerable individuals in particular. Susan Ashmore, Chief Executive of the Anne Peaker Centre for Arts in Criminal Justice, endorsed the reports recognition of the need for a strategic approach to assessing the effectiveness of the arts, but called for the reasoning behind evaluation to be given careful consideration: Should we be measuring re-offending rates, self-harm reduction or the economic viability of the arts, etc.? There has to be some understanding by any agency that requests messages from research, that it is tricky to pin down and to define the essence of the arts alone.
Published: 15-01-2007