The future of rehabilitation: What role for the probation service?

In this article, the authors draw on arguments developed in their recent book Rehabilitation, Crime and Justice (Raynor and Robinson, 2005) to discuss the aftermath of the ‘What Works’ initiative and the future of rehabilitation. They argue that our understanding of rehabilitation needs to extend beyond narrow correctionalism to a more socially inclusive and relational model, and outline some of the strategies which might enable the probation service, at a time of uncertainty about its future, to contribute to this kind of development.