Journal of Forensic Practice

Worthington, Rachel; Wheeler, Suzanne

2023 Journal of Forensic Practice

doi: 10.1108/jfp-01-2022-0005

Hyperfocus (HF) is characterised by an intense state of concentration/focus. The purpose of this study is to explore in what ways HF has been found to contribute towards offending behaviour and what treatments have been found to be efficacious to reduce offending behaviour where HF was a contributing factor.Design/methodology/approachThe systematic review was performed according to the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Papers were screened for quality appraisal and risk of bias. The initial search yielded 9,446 articles. Fifty-seven papers were deemed as meeting the inclusion criteria.FindingsHF was noted to act as a vulnerability factor for aggression, sexual offending, radicalisation and stalking. HF was also observed in clients with psychopathy, autism, mental illness and those without a diagnosis. Thus, HF was not found to be offence or diagnosis specific. Furthermore, HF was found across males and females and adults and adolescents. The results identified themes in relation to the mechanisms by which HF may contribute to offending and suggested interventions for HF and offending.Practical implicationsPractitioners working with clients with HF currently lack evidence on the extent to which this contributes towards offending and recidivism and how HF could be addressed in interventions. Future research is needed to establish the role of HF in offending behaviour. Ideally, this should involve longitudinal data collection, retrospective analysis of data and sophisticated statistical analysis. This should also include exploration of the ways in which HF may be interconnected with offence risks/need factors which contribute towards offending. Research could inform the development of formal measurement tools for HF which are validated with norms for adult and adolescent offender samples. Practitioners should use case formulation to explore if HF represents a treatment need for clients they are working with.Originality/valueThis review noted that although HF has been postulated as being an important contributing factor to offending behaviour, few studies have tested this directly. From the limited studies available, HF was found to be relevant across different types of offences. HF was noted to contribute to offending due to neuropsychological mechanisms linked to executive functioning deficits and positive rewards associated with offending behaviour. Reasons for the lack of HF research are noted and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Churchman, James William; Baron, Susan; Carr, Michelle; Orr, Donna

2023 Journal of Forensic Practice

doi: 10.1108/jfp-08-2022-0042

Following research into the application of Electronic Monitoring (EM), Criminal Justice Order (2016) no. 954 was published, which introduced EM for offenders leaving custody in England and Wales (Ministry of Justice, 2016). EM was later extended to include those subjected to release on temporary licence (ROTL). The purpose of this study is to be the first, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, to evaluate a pilot project using EM during the ROTL process. The outcome allowed for recommendations to be made regarding the continued use of EM within the open prison estate.Design/methodology/approachThis is a qualitative research project involving semi-structured interviews with staff and residents. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis which resulted in exploration of 4 themes and 11 sub-themes and recommendations for future research/practice.FindingsResults demonstrated that both staff and residents evaluated the use of EM as helpful with regard to evidencing compliance with ROTL conditions. In addition, staff also found it helpful for providing additional reassurance to victims and providing evidence for ROTL breaches.Practical implicationsTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this was the first qualitative evaluation of EM relating to the ROTL process. The evaluation improves understanding of the value of EM for policymakers and the Ministry of Justice, especially in terms of the ROTL process. The recommendations made in this paper evidence the value of EM use in the future.Originality/valueThis evaluation supports continued use of EM and its integration into policy and procedures for residents subject to temporary licence. This paper concluded that consistent and reliable use of EM may contribute to victim reassurance and reduce recidivism of residents during ROTL, subsequently increasing the public’s perception of safety.

Camilleri, Claire; Clark, Marilyn

2023 Journal of Forensic Practice

doi: 10.1108/jfp-09-2022-0050

The purpose of this study is to explore and theorise about the desistance process of Maltese mothers who previously used drugs. The study unpacks how initial and continued desistance from high-risk drug use (HRDU) is impacted by being a mother within the Maltese context and identifies contingencies for desistance and examines how they are negotiated along the desistance pathways.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a symbolic interactionist-inspired career framework and involved in-depth exploration of trajectories of mothering and desistance of eight Maltese women with a history of HRDU. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews and analysis used an evolved grounded theory methodology.FindingsFour explanatory categories were identified in the interview data to document the role of mothering in the various pathways to desistance recounted by the women. These are: becoming a mother; differing pathways of desistance in relation to mothering; the lived experience; identity negotiation and transformation. This study highlights how identity fluidity and transformation is central to the desistance process.Practical implicationsThe paper aims to inform policy and practice with mothers who use drugs and their families and has important implications for the development and delivery of gender transformative interventions.Originality/valueThis study challenges taken-for-granted beliefs about the influence of mothering on desistance and identifies the complexities involved.

Humphries, Karen; Clarke, Caroline; Willoughby, Kate; Collingwood, Sophie

2023 Journal of Forensic Practice

doi: 10.1108/jfp-09-2022-0049

In 2019, the world was hit by a life threatening severe acute respiratory syndrome causing a global pandemic; Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In the UK, a nationwide “lockdown” of public isolation and reduced social contact followed. The experience of COVID-19 and the lockdown for forensic secure mental health patients is yet to be understood. This study aims to explore this phenomenon from the patients’ perspective.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative approach was taken. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with six patients from a low secure unit in the UK, between November 2020 and March 2021.FindingsInterpretive phenomenological analysis generated three superordinate themes from the data, providing insight into patients’ experience: “treading water”; how they managed: “learning to swim”; and what was helpful during this time: “in the same boat”.Practical implicationsFurther consideration should be given to creating a sense of safety in wards, along with ways to continue to address the power imbalance. Interestingly, social connection may be cultivated from within the hospital setting and would benefit from further research.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore secure patients’ experience of COVID-19 from the patients’ perspective, within a population often neglected within recovery research.

Tarpey, Emma; Stephenson, Zoe; Barker, Richard

2023 Journal of Forensic Practice

doi: 10.1108/jfp-12-2022-0064

The purpose of this paper is to review the evidence base for the use of risk formulation in forensic practice settings.Design/methodology/approachSystematic literature review principles were adopted to identify literature exploring risk formulation in forensic practice settings in relation to offending behaviour.FindingsData were analysed using a narrative synthesis approach, and commonalities were observed across some of the studies in terms of definitions, outcomes, and implementation, of risk formulation; however, the findings of the review did not provide a definitive account of risk formulation practice in forensic settings. This is due to the narrow scope of the included studies, the small yet diverse samples, the heterogeneity in research aims and the methodological weaknesses apparent within the included studies.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research is needed to understand the application and outcomes of risk formulation in forensic practice settings.Practical implicationsPractitioners should be clear about how they are defining, implementing and assessing the outcomes of risk formulation, alongside being mindful of the evidence base when utilising forensic risk formulation in practice.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to focus solely on the evidence base for forensic risk formulation in practice.

Trumm, Aile; Lau, Edward Jun Shing; Farthing, Shirley; Breen, Kieran

2023 Journal of Forensic Practice

doi: 10.1108/jfp-12-2022-0065

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the lives of the deaf community, and the implementation of restrictions on face-to-face meetings resulted in the trial introduction of video remote interpreting (VRI) in a secure psychiatric setting. This study aims to use a qualitative research paradigm to explore user experiences to inform potential future technological developments in this area.Design/methodology/approachTwelve deaf patients and three interpreters took part in structured face-to-face interviews and discussed their experiences of the use of VRI, with the results being assessed using thematic analysis.FindingsSeven main themes were identified: resource availability, ease of use, technical issues, misunderstandings, medium secure-specific issues, preferences and human factors. All participants agreed that they did not like the VRI technology in the health-care environment in its current format, and their main concern was the difficulty in understanding the information being communicated. It was considered that this had the potential to incur potentially serious medico-legal and safety implications for both staff and patients alike.Practical implicationsThis study has provided detailed users’ feedback about the potential future use in this communication tool and can help guide service developers to review the technology design to tailor it towards the users’ needs. While the existing technology is not currently suitable for this deaf population, particularly because of the potential for error, there is potential scope for further research in this area.Originality/valueThe COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity to explore the potential use of VRI for a deaf patient population within a secure psychiatric setting, where such technology is unlikely to have otherwise been used.

Thomas, Dafydd; Stevens, Megan; Davies, Jason

2023 Journal of Forensic Practice

doi: 10.1108/jfp-10-2022-0056

Domestic abuse (DA) is a major issue with serious psychological, social, societal and economic impacts. Consequently, there has been an increased focus by policymakers and multiple statutory and third-sector agencies on addressing harms associated with DA and fostering healthy intimate and domestic relationships. This paper details the development and implementation of a whole family approach to DA set within a community social services setting.Design/methodology/approachA detailed description of the development and implementation of a new whole family approach is provided. This includes a focus on the equilibrium programme, an accredited strengths-based, solution-focused group element that has been devised and established for those engaging in harmful behaviours.FindingsThe importance of governance, programme support and practitioner supervision are discussed along with the ways these are used by the service. The evaluation framework presented will enable the impact of the programme to be determined over the coming years.Practical implicationsThere is clear need to address the significant problem of DA/intimate partner violence. This paper provides a model and accredited treatment approach to implementing a whole family approach to DA set within a community social services setting. This provides an opportunity for early intervention based on a strengths-based, solution focussed approach to addressing harmful behaviours and building skills and resilience.Originality/valueThis paper details a whole system approach to early intervention with families in which there is DA. Providing input via social care child and family support services prior to legal involvement provides an opportunity to avoid an escalation of harms. It also enables solutions to conflict to be found which take account of the relationship between parents and children.

Haase, Ruby; Worthington, Rachel

2023 Journal of Forensic Practice

doi: 10.1108/jfp-12-2022-0063

Coercive control (which is a form of intimate partner violence [IPV]) is a significant public health concern affecting millions of people throughout the world. Whilst exposure to IPV in childhood and adolescence has been shown to contribute to the intergenerational transmission of IPV, this alone does not explain IPV. A range of bio-psycho-social factors contribute to IPV which includes exposure to peer influence on social media platforms, whereby research has shown this online expression of views and opinions can change off-line behaviour. This has extended to not only purchasing products but also influencing attitudes in relation to illegal behaviour such as sexual harassment and sexual assault. The purpose of this study was to explore what young people are being exposed to online, through social media, surrounding coercive controlling behaviour.Design/methodology/approachAccording to Fazel et al. (2021), real-time social media data can provide important information about trends in public attitudes and attitudes towards events in the news. This study used data from Twitter to explore what adolescents are being exposed to online surrounding coercive and controlling behaviour. The data was subsequently analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.FindingsThree overarching themes were found in relation to coercive control: the Educator; Gaslighter; and the Comedian. Two of these were forms of secondary victimisation.Practical implicationsSocial media provides a powerful platform through which people’s attitudes and behaviours may be influenced both positively and negatively in relation to socio-political issues (Lozano-Blasco et al., 2022). The implications of the findings in this study are discussed with recommendations for how social media platforms could be supported to act prevent them from being used as a tool to facilitate the distribution of hate speech in relation to IPV and instead be used as a platform for psycho-education.Originality/valuePrevious research in this field has tended to focus on the impact of IPV and the prevalence rates of IPV in young people, but not on the different types of information young people may be exposed to surrounding relationships on social media platforms.