Alongside anecdotal feedback a psychometric questionnaire called
Crime Pics II is used to measure changes in each prisoners’ attitudes
after taking part in Sycamore Tree. An evaluation of more than 2,000
Crime Pics questionnaires was conducted by Sheffield Hallam University
and indicates that the programme reduces attitudes that are known to be
conducive to offending behaviour.
Additionally Prison Fellowship has recently commissioned a research
project, supervised by Professor Lawrence Sherman of Cambridge
University, to demonstrate Sycamore Tree’s effect on reducing
reoffending. At the heart of this project will be a randomised control
trial, which will rigorously compare recidivism of adult male
participants and non-participants. The project will measure the
frequency and
severity of re-offending of the offenders within one year and also two
years of release. The research will provide evidence for Prison
Fellowship and significant policy-makers of the economic and human
value of this programme.
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