Arts in the Criminal Justice System
Unlocking Value: The economic benefit of the arts in criminal justice explores the economic benefits which art interventions can produce. Looking specifically at three projects, it calculates the financial savings from the reduction in crime, reduced criminal justice costs, and the increased employment of ex-offenders following an arts-based intervention. This report was produced by New Philanthropy Capital, an independent think tank which specialises in helping charities and funders achieve greater impact.
'What really works? Arts with offenders' is a new brochure from the Clinks-managed Arts Alliance. The brochure offers a snapshot of the huge variety of arts initiatives taking place in the Criminal Justice System, together with findings from research and the experiences of participants and staff who know the benefits that art offers offenders in their rehabilitation.
No Ordinary Alliance - Arts Alliance annual review 2010 (2mb - large file)
This
is a summary of Arts Alliance activity in the financial year from April
2010 ending April 2011. The Arts ALliance President, Lord David
Ramsbotham, declared of the arts that they "developed self-esteem, that
vital ingredient in encouraging offenders to tackle those things that
have prevented them from living useful and law-abiding lives",
furthermore he adds that the Arts Alliance is critical to "...ensure
that government was aware of the priceless contribution that they [arts
organisations] made to successful protection of the public by preventing
re-offending".
Criminal Justice: An Artists Guide
Written
by Saul Hewish and Chris Johnston from Rideout this guide offers Arts
Alliance members the chance to learn from Rideout's vast experience of
delivering arts based projects in the Criminal Justice System. As Tim
Robertson, Chair of the Arts Alliance and Chief Executive of Koestler
Trust, stated, "The Arts Alliance should be a place for artists to share
experiencs and expertise; why they do what they do, what makes things
work and what makes them fail". This guide strengthens our ability to
achieve this goal.
Demonstrating the value of arts in Criminal Justice
More
and more the work that the voluntary and community sector undertakes is
being scrutinised by government departments, academic institutions,
independent funders and the general public. Arts organisations are
increasingly asking, ‘What are we achieving?’ and ‘What makes this
work?’ Importantly, they are also asking, ‘How can we improve what we
do?’. This guide, produced by Charities Evaluation Services, provides
practical tips to help organisations move from making their desired
effect explicit to developing methods of capturing and demonstrating
achievements; this includes how to analyse, interpret and use the data
collected to make a convincing case.
The Evidence Library
This
comprehensive body of evidence was collated by Angus McLewin from AMA
consultancy. The amount of research and evaluation that has been
undertaken into the arts in criminal justice is testament to the
professional approach many arts charities and social enterprises are
taking towards measuring their effectiveness. This evidence library
marks the start of a process whereby the Arts Alliance will track and
promote the evidence behind the arts and highlight why and how the arts
really work.
