A tripartite strategy for unpaid work in the community

In our July 2023 Academic Insights paper,?Dr Eoin Guilfoyle and Dr Louise Kennefick set out the benefits to be gained from a clear underpinning philosophy and strategic direction for unpaid work which meets the needs of victims, those who have offended, and the community as a whole. A tripartite strategy is proposed to guide future policy and operational developments, based on the principles of desistance, restorative justice, and social justice. Taken together, these principles highlight the importance of multi-agency responses and working practices, alongside meaningful co-production and community participation. The goal is to support positive pro-social changes at the individual, interpersonal and community levels, repairing harm, supporting reintegration, tackling social exclusion, and promoting community solidarity.?

"Unpaid work has the potential to play a more prominent role in advancing desistance. As it stands, literature indicates that unpaid work in the community can support individuals in their desistance efforts through its rehabilitative function, and that community service experiences can reduce recidivism. A reduction in reoffending is particularly evident where the individual has a sense that the sanction was fair, meaningful to them and the recipient(s), and has a degree of reciprocity in terms of building relationships with others".

The paper can be accessed via the link below.

?