The first comprehensive review examining the effectiveness of the arts in criminal justice settings, particularly the use of arts in the prevention of crime, in custodial and community sentencing, and resettlement. Starting with a strategic literature review of relevant worldwide practice from 1997 through to 2003, it then goes on to:

• present the evidence relating to the effectiveness of arts interventions in the prevention, custodial and resettlement areas of criminal justice provision
• explore issues and models of arts practice and the development of a theory base for arts provision in the sector
• draw conclusions and makes a series of recommendations for research development in the arts in criminal justice sector.

Commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Offenders’ Learning and Skills Unit at the Department for Education and Skills and Arts Council England, this review was the first output from this informal partnership to to strengthen the evidence base for the arts as an effective medium in offender rehabilitation.

The objectives of the review were to:

• survey and evaluate the range, practice, method and effectiveness of previous arts interventions in criminal justice settings
• explore and specify the causal mechanisms/models of change underlying existing practice and any links to rehabilitation or prevention
• analyse existing evidence for any differential effects of participation in specific art forms.

Key Findings:

While confirming the current paucity of high quality research and evaluation in the field (1997-2003), the survey findings show very clearly 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. They show that the arts are associated with positive criminal justice outcomes and can play an important part in changing individual, institutional and social circumstances which sponsor criminal behaviour.