Evaluating risk assessment: A methodological study of mentally disordered offenders in the London probation area

Fitzgibbon, W. 2008. Evaluating risk assessment: A methodological study of mentally disordered offenders in the London probation area. in: Cox, P., Geisen, T. and Green, R. (ed.) Qualitative Research and Social Change: European Contexts Springer. pp. 135-152

Chapter titleEvaluating risk assessment: A methodological study of mentally disordered offenders in the London probation area
AuthorsFitzgibbon, W.
EditorsCox, P., Geisen, T. and Green, R.
Abstract

This chapter concerns the effectiveness in practice of the current pre-occupation with risk assessment in criminal justice and social services. It examines aspects of the new orientation towards risk and the effects this has had in the probation service and in social work, both of which have moved away from traditional casework methods towards various methodologies of risk assessment. The dynamics of this shift are now well-known (Kemshall, 2003; Oldfield, 2002; Robinson 2003b, 2005). Such change may form part of wider social and political changes, which have been much discussed in the social sciences (Garland, 2001; Lea, 2002; Young, 1999, 2003). The rise to predominance in the United Kingdom of the ‘risk agenda’; the concern by government to protect the public against the risks posed by offenders and other high risk groups is, it can be argued, inextricably connected to ‘the decline of the welfare state’ (Hudson, 2003). In its widest sense, the welfare state is incompatible with the ‘risk society’, in that a commitment to welfare presupposes a desire by tax payers to invest in the reintegration of offenders for the good of society as a whole. The risk society is concerned with excluding those it deems a threat and ensuring that the worthy majority feel protected against such persons. The main aim in this chapter, however, is to identify, on the basis of a small study1 of the implementation of The Offender Assessment System (E-OASys) risk-assessment tool currently in use in the English and Welsh Probation Service, some of the contradictions and problems inherent in the operation of such risk containment techniques by probation practitioners.

Book titleQualitative Research and Social Change: European Contexts
Page range135-152
Year2008
PublisherSpringer
Publication dates
Published2008
ISBN9781349358991
9780230537279
9780230583962
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230583962
JournalQualitative Research and Social Change: European Contexts

Related outputs

Children and the Sex Offender Register: Prevalence and Experiences
Ansbro, M. and Fitzgibbon, W. 2024. Children and the Sex Offender Register: Prevalence and Experiences. London Barrow Cadbury Trust.

Alldurchdringendes Strafkontinuum: Die Erfahrung ambulanter Sanktionen
Fitzgibbon, W. 2022. Alldurchdringendes Strafkontinuum: Die Erfahrung ambulanter Sanktionen. Kriminologisches Journal. 3, pp. 199-218. https://doi.org/10.3262/KJ2203199

Applied Photovoice in Criminal Justice Research
Fitzgibbon, W. 2022. Applied Photovoice in Criminal Justice Research. Routledge.

Marketisation and Privatisation in Criminal Justice, K.Albertson, M.Corcoran and J.Phillips (Eds.). Bristol: Policy Press (2020) 329pp. £64.00hb, £23.19pb, £23.19e‐book ISBN 9781447345701, 9781447345817, 9781447346180
Fitzgibbon, W. 2021. Marketisation and Privatisation in Criminal Justice, K.Albertson, M.Corcoran and J.Phillips (Eds.). Bristol: Policy Press (2020) 329pp. £64.00hb, £23.19pb, £23.19e‐book ISBN 9781447345701, 9781447345817, 9781447346180. The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice. 60 (4), pp. 606-607. https://doi.org/10.1111/hojo.12454

Privatising Justice
Fitzgibbon, W. and Lea, J. 2020. Privatising Justice. Pluto Press.

Different ways of seeing: Exploring audience reactions to images of probation supervision
Healy, D. and Fitzgibbon, W. 2020. Different ways of seeing: Exploring audience reactions to images of probation supervision. Qualitative Social Work. 19 (4), pp. 663-684. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325019845426

Lives and spaces: Photovoice and offender supervision in Ireland and England
Fitzgibbon, W. and Healy, D. 2019. Lives and spaces: Photovoice and offender supervision in Ireland and England. Criminology and Criminal Justice. 19 (1). https://doi.org/10.1177/1748895817739665

Photovoice and lived experiences of probation supervision: Using visual images to understand the experiences of service users
Fitzgibbon, W. 2018. Photovoice and lived experiences of probation supervision: Using visual images to understand the experiences of service users. Probation Quarterly. 10, pp. 27-35.

La prevención del delito y los medios de comunicación [Crime Prevention and the Media]
Fitzgibbon, W. 2018. La prevención del delito y los medios de comunicación [Crime Prevention and the Media]. in: Tenca, M. and Ortiz, E. (ed.) Manual de Prevención del Delito y Seguridad Ciudadana [Handbook on Crime Prevention and Community Safety for Latin America] Buenas Aires Ediciones Didot.

Book review: A Hucklesby and S Lister (eds), The Private Sector and Criminal Justice
Fitzgibbon, W. 2018. Book review: A Hucklesby and S Lister (eds), The Private Sector and Criminal Justice. Theoretical Criminology. 23 (4), pp. 566-569. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362480618792770

Supervisible: Using Photo-Elicitation to Explore the Lived Experience of Offender Supervision
Healy, D. and Fitzgibbon, W. 2018. Supervisible: Using Photo-Elicitation to Explore the Lived Experience of Offender Supervision. Sage Research Methods. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781526441393

Privatization and coercion: The question of legitimacy
Fitzgibbon, W. and Lea, J. 2018. Privatization and coercion: The question of legitimacy. Theoretical Criminology. 22 (4), pp. 545-562. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362480617707952

Women's voices made visible: Photovoice in visual criminology
Fitzgibbon, W. and Stengel, C.M. 2018. Women's voices made visible: Photovoice in visual criminology. Punishment and Society. 20 (4), pp. 411-431. https://doi.org/10.1177/1462474517700137

Probation, Risk and the Power of the Media
Fitzgibbon, W. 2017. Probation, Risk and the Power of the Media. in: Trotter, C., McIvor, G. and McNeill, F. (ed.) Beyond the Risk Paradigm in Criminal Justice Macmillan Education.

Riots and protest in Europe
Fitzgibbon, W. 2017. Riots and protest in Europe. in: Isaacs, S. (ed.) European Social Problems Taylor & Francis. pp. 187-200

Pervasive punishment: Experiencing supervision
Fitzgibbon, W., Graebsch, C. and McNeill, F. 2017. Pervasive punishment: Experiencing supervision. in: Brown, M. and Carrabine, E. (ed.) Routledge International Handbook of Visual Criminology Routledge. pp. 305-318

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid of … the Environmental Activist? Ideological War, Coercive Justice, and Orwellian Dystopia
Sauvant, A., Fitzgibbon, W. and Nurse, A. 2016. Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid of … the Environmental Activist? Ideological War, Coercive Justice, and Orwellian Dystopia. in: Potter, G.R., Nurse, A. and Hall, M. (ed.) The Geography of Environmental Crime: Conservation, Wildlife Crime and Environmental Activism Springer. pp. 59-88

Punishment, Youth Justice and Cultural Contingency: Towards a Balanced Approach
Hamilton, C., Fitzgibbon, W. and Carr, N. 2016. Punishment, Youth Justice and Cultural Contingency: Towards a Balanced Approach. Youth Justice. 16 (3), pp. 226-245. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473225415619500

Innovation and privatisation in the probation service in England and Wales
Fitzgibbon, W. 2016. Innovation and privatisation in the probation service in England and Wales. British Journal of Community Justice. 14 (1), pp. 71-77.

Probation, privatisation and perceptions of risk
Fitzgibbon, W. 2016. Probation, privatisation and perceptions of risk. in: Vanstone, M. and Priestly, P. (ed.) Probation and Politics: Academic Reflections from Former Practitioners Springer. pp. 159-176

Book review: Delivering Rehabilitation: The Politics and Governance and Control of Probation
Fitzgibbon, W. 2015. Book review: Delivering Rehabilitation: The Politics and Governance and Control of Probation. Probation Journal. 62 (4), pp. 417-419. https://doi.org/10.1177/0264550515618822

Commentary on ‘Upgrading electronic monitoring, downgrading probation’
Fitzgibbon, W. 2014. Commentary on ‘Upgrading electronic monitoring, downgrading probation’. European Journal of Probation. 6 (2), pp. 192-193. https://doi.org/10.1177/2066220314544102

Defending probation: Beyond privatisation and security
Fitzgibbon, W. and Lea, J. 2014. Defending probation: Beyond privatisation and security. European Journal of Probation. 6 (1), pp. 24-41. https://doi.org/10.1177/2066220314523226

A Question of Family? Youth and Gangs
Young, T., Fitzgibbon, W. and Silverstone, D. 2014. A Question of Family? Youth and Gangs. Youth Justice. 14 (2), pp. 171-185. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473225414537569

The Role of the Family in Facilitating Gang Membership, Criminality and Exit. Catch 22 Publication
Young, T., Fitzgibbon, W. and Silverstone, D. 2013. The Role of the Family in Facilitating Gang Membership, Criminality and Exit. Catch 22 Publication. Catch22 by London Metropolitan University.

Supervising rioters: The role of probation
Fitzgibbon, W., Curry, D. and Lea, J. 2013. Supervising rioters: The role of probation. Howard Journal of Criminal Justice. 52 (5), pp. 445-461. https://doi.org/10.1111/hojo.12037

Risk and privatisation
Fitzgibbon, W. 2013. Risk and privatisation. British Journal of Community Justice. 11 (2-3), pp. 87-90.

Riots and probation: governing the precariat
Fitzgibbon, W. 2013. Riots and probation: governing the precariat. Criminal Justice Matters. 93 (1), pp. 18-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/09627251.2013.833787

COST Action IS1106: Offender Supervision in Europe
Fitzgibbon, W. 2013. COST Action IS1106: Offender Supervision in Europe. COST Action.

In the eye of the storm: The implications of the Munro Child Protection Review for the future of probation
Fitzgibbon, W. 2012. In the eye of the storm: The implications of the Munro Child Protection Review for the future of probation. Probation Journal. 59 (1), pp. 7-22. https://doi.org/10.1177/0264550511429166

Probation and social work on trial: Violent offenders and child abusers
Fitzgibbon, W. 2011. Probation and social work on trial: Violent offenders and child abusers. Springer.

Risk Assessments for Mental Health Service Users
Fitzgibbon, W. 2010. Risk Assessments for Mental Health Service Users. Journal of Social Work. 10 (2), pp. 211-229. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468017309342191

Risikoträger oder verletzliche Individuen: über die präemptive Kriminalisierung von Menschen mit psychischen Problemen
Fitzgibbon, W. 2010. Risikoträger oder verletzliche Individuen: über die präemptive Kriminalisierung von Menschen mit psychischen Problemen. in: Paul, B. and Schmidt-Semisch, H. (ed.) Risiko Gesundheit Springer. pp. 227-240

Police, Probation and the Bifurcation of Community
Fitzgibbon, W. and Lea, J. 2010. Police, Probation and the Bifurcation of Community. The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice. 49 (3), pp. 215-230. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2311.2010.00608.x

A risky business: An examination of Irish probation officers’ attitudes towards risk assessment
Fitzgibbon, W., Hamilton, C. and Richardson, M. 2010. A risky business: An examination of Irish probation officers’ attitudes towards risk assessment. Probation Journal. 57 (2), pp. 163-174. https://doi.org/10.1177/0264550510362562

Reasons to be Fearful: Dealing with Risk in The Probation Service
Fitzgibbon, W. 2010. Reasons to be Fearful: Dealing with Risk in The Probation Service. EuroVista. 1 (2), pp. 101-105.

The conveyor belt of criminal justice: the Sonnex case, risk, and de-skilling in probation
Fitzgibbon, W. 2009. The conveyor belt of criminal justice: the Sonnex case, risk, and de-skilling in probation. Criminal Justice Matters. 78 (1), pp. 6-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/09627250903385149

Mentally disordered offenders and the parole process
Fitzgibbon, W. 2009. Mentally disordered offenders and the parole process. Eris Web Journal.

Deconstructing probation: Risk and developments in practice
Fitzgibbon, W. 2008. Deconstructing probation: Risk and developments in practice. Journal of social work practice. 22 (1), pp. 85-101. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650530701872405

Fit for purpose? OASys assessments and parole decisions
Fitzgibbon, W. 2008. Fit for purpose? OASys assessments and parole decisions. Probation Journal. 55 (1), pp. 55-69. https://doi.org/10.1177/0264550507085677

Tied up like a kipper: mentally disordered offenders and the parole process
Fitzgibbon, W. 2008. Tied up like a kipper: mentally disordered offenders and the parole process. Prison Service Journal. 179, pp. 32-35.

Recent Developments in Probation Practice: the impact of risk analysis
Fitzgibbon, W. 2008. Recent Developments in Probation Practice: the impact of risk analysis. PhD thesis University of Hertfordshire

Institutional Racism, Pre-Emptive Criminalisation and Risk Analysis
Fitzgibbon, W. 2007. Institutional Racism, Pre-Emptive Criminalisation and Risk Analysis. The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice. 46 (2), pp. 128-144. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2311.2007.00461.x

Risk analysis and the new practitioner: Myth or reality?
Fitzgibbon, W. 2007. Risk analysis and the new practitioner: Myth or reality? Punishment and Society. 9 (1), pp. 87-97. https://doi.org/10.1177/1462474507070554

Working with mentally disordered offenders: Government policy, NOMS and inaction
Fitzgibbon, W. and Cameron, A. 2007. Working with mentally disordered offenders: Government policy, NOMS and inaction. The British Journal of Forensic Practice. 9 (1), pp. 4-9. https://doi.org/10.1108/14636646200700002

Prison is good but I shouldn't be here' Perspectives from prisoners interviewed in an Indian jail
Fitzgibbon, W. and Curry, D. 2007. Prison is good but I shouldn't be here' Perspectives from prisoners interviewed in an Indian jail. Vista. 11 (1), pp. 14-24.

Book Review: Mental Disorder and Criminal Justice: Policy, Provision and Practice
Fitzgibbon, W. 2006. Book Review: Mental Disorder and Criminal Justice: Policy, Provision and Practice. Criminology & Criminal Justice. 6 (4), pp. 463-464. https://doi.org/10.1177/1748895806068586

Mentally disordered offenders: challenges in using the OASys risk assessment tool
Fitzgibbon, W. and Green, R. 2006. Mentally disordered offenders: challenges in using the OASys risk assessment tool. British Journal of Community Justice. 4 (2), pp. 35-45.

Book Review: Understanding Risk in Criminal Justice
Fitzgibbon, W. 2005. Book Review: Understanding Risk in Criminal Justice. Probation Journal. 52 (1), pp. 94-96. https://doi.org/10.1177/026455050505200117

E-OASys: A Helpful Assessment Tool for the Mentally Vulnerable Offender
Fitzgibbon, W. and Cameron, A. 2005. E-OASys: A Helpful Assessment Tool for the Mentally Vulnerable Offender. London London Probation Area.

Pre-emptive Criminalisation Risk Control and Alternative Futures
Fitzgibbon, W. 2004. Pre-emptive Criminalisation Risk Control and Alternative Futures. London National Association of Probation Officers.

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/v9vy1/evaluating-risk-assessment-a-methodological-study-of-mentally-disordered-offenders-in-the-london-probation-area


Share this

Usage statistics

74 total views
0 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.