Process evaluation of an educational programme for preventing recidivism by adult firesetters
Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice
ISSN: 2056-3841
Article publication date: 20 October 2021
Issue publication date: 10 August 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Fire-related offences are costly in human and financial terms. Fire education is widely used with juveniles and with adults in forensic psychiatric settings; however, with prison/probation clients there has been a lack of focus on its potential. This study asked participants of a structured fire education programme for adults how they experienced it and its impact on their feelings about firesetting.
Design/methodology/approach
Participants were 15 programme completers, including ten males and five females. All were adults that had attended the programme during their sentence, either in the community or whilst in custody.
Findings
Using an inductive thematic analysis this study interpreted the following themes: a supportive and responsive approach, impactful learning materials and methods, a new way of thinking, and picking up the pieces. This study proposes that the intervention may activate change through its powerful methods including fact-based arguments and support from legitimate experts.
Practical implications
Firesetters’ Integrated Responsive Educational Programme (FIRE-P) is a novel example of a specialist structured fire education programme for adult firesetters. This is the first paper to outline its structure and content. Understanding how change occurs in FIRE-P has implications for intervention design and delivery with this client group.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first qualitative study of a structured fire education programme for adults and provides researchers and practitioners with insight into the ingredients of a successful fire education programme.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the participants of this research for sharing their thoughts and feelings about FIRE-P. The authors also thank the prison staff and probation practitioners that helped in facilitating the interviews. Finally, the authors thank Dr Lucy Akehurst for her support and assistance during the course of this process evaluation.
Citation
Pearson, D., Merrick, M., Dent, A. and Blampied, S. (2022), "Process evaluation of an educational programme for preventing recidivism by adult firesetters", Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice, Vol. 8 No. 3, pp. 183-195. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-06-2021-0032
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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