Motivating Offenders to Change

How can you help someone who doesn't want to be helped? Should you even try? If motivation is considered not only as an intrinsic attribute of the offender, but dependent upon a range of factors including what obstacles there are, what sort of changes are needed and the kind of intervention on offer, steps can be taken to improve the situation. Mary McMurran has skilfully brought together eminent researchers and practitioners, who provide the reader with best knowledge and practice from two major fields-addictions and criminological psychology-to examine the therapeutic process and suggest how best to engage offenders in therapy. Throughout, ethical issues surrounding motivating offenders to change are closely scrutinised. This book is an invaluable resource and guide to those training and working with offenders and training staff, including clinical and prison psychologists, probation officers, forensic psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, occupational therapists , counsellors, and prison officers. Scholars and practitioners who despair because 'the people who are most in need of treatment are the most difficult to engage' will feel optimistic and reinvigorated after reading this book. Motivating Offenders to Change provides the most valuable and comprehensive information available anywhere about how to encourage offenders to attend sessions and to comply with and benefit from treatment. David P. Farrington, Professor of Psychological Criminology at Cambridge University, UK This excellent book is a must-read for all who are involved in the criminal justice system. It challenges the idea that confrontation with offenders is necessary and demonstrates that effective treatment results from building effective relationships with these clients. McMurran's book is a groundbreaking synthesis of what is known from various fields about motivating offenders. William L. Marshall, Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Psychiatry at Queen's University, Kingston, Canada