The purpose of this evaluation is to demonstrate the long-term impact and cost-effectiveness of Family Man to policy makers, funders, prisons and practitioners; and to complement Gwyneth Boswell’s qualitative study of the revised Family Man and other previous evaluations.

The evaluation assesses the changes in students’ and adult family supporters’ perceptions of their family relationships and themselves, the impact on students’ behaviour both in custody and the community and the cost-effectiveness of the programme. It employs a mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Surveys were administered to all students and supporters taking the course capturing the following: attitudes towards family and education, quality of family contact, perceptions of themselves in relation to offending behaviour and motivation to change in alignment with desistance theory. In addition, pre and post-programme surveys will be administered to participating officers and education staff capturing changes in staff perceptions of students’ attitudes towards education/prison and behaviour in the classroom/on the wing.

Prison Service and PNC data are analysed to ascertain the following:

Adjudications per month and visits per month before during and after the programme for all revised FM graduates to assess impact on family relationships and behaviour, data for students on open ACCTs, the proportion progressing to meaningful activities (ETE) after course completion and long term reoffending rates.

Lastly, a cost benefit analysis was undertaken assessing potential savings realised through FM in relation to reoffending/adjudications and post-release employment rates. Thought is also given to how improved family relationships can be quantified, drawing on existing research. In addition, the real costs of running each Family Man course are calculated, including resources, training and staff time.