between blacks and East Indians, and political leaders used this ethnic animosity to maintain their power with a divide-and-rule policy. Although the book introduces readers to the importance of the problem of police violence, Mars goes beyond explaining why Guyana ended up with so much police violence, detailing and exposing the brutality and the killings that occurred in a historical and contemporary context. Even though police use ofdeadly force is not illegal, the excessive use of force that kills or injures civilians is indeed against the law. Unfortunately, the Guyana legal system does not specify when this force is illegitimate, and these weak legal controls contribute to the increased rate ofpolice homicide. In this regard, Mars states that Guyana's police force needs urgent reform and that police violence could possibly be reduced if military rule were removed. Moreover, public trust in the police could be increased if excessive police force were routinely investigated and officers knew that they faced prosecution when they used illegal force. In summary, this book is an excellent source for those who are interested in studying how the police have contributed to the social, political, and historical inheritance of Guyana. It would be a good supplement for criminal justice history courses as well as police courses that study the evolutionary impact that social movements have on the development and function ofpolice.

Racism, Crime, and Justice:

Background: Offender health is deemed a priority issue by the Department of Health Peer support is an established feature of prison life in England and Wales; however, more needs to be known about the effectiveness of peer-based interventions to maintain and improve health in prison settings Objectives: The study aimed to synthesise the evidence on peer-based interventions in prison settings by carrying out a systematic review and holding an expert symposium Review questions were (1) what are the effects of peer-based interventions on prisoner health and the determinants of prisoner health?, (2) what are the positive and negative impacts on health services within prison settings of delivering peer-based interventions?, (3) how do the effects of peer-based approaches compare with those of professionally led approaches? and (4) what are the costs and cost-effectiveness of peer-based interventions in prison settings? Data sources: For the systematic review, 20 electronic databases including MEDLINE, PsycINFO, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and EMBASE were searched from 1985 Grey literature and relevant websites were also searched To supplement the review findings 58 delegates, representing a variety of organisations, attended an expert symposium, which provided contextual information Review methods: Two reviewers independently selected studies using the following inclusion criteria: population – prisoners resident in prisons and young offender institutions; intervention – peer-based interventions; comparators: review questions 3 and 4 compared peer-led and professionally led approaches; outcomes – prisoner health or determinants of health, organisational/process outcomes or views of prison populations; study design: quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods evaluations Two reviewers extracted data and assessed validity using piloted electronic forms and validity assessment criteria based on published checklists Results from quantitative studies were combined using narrative summary and meta-analysis when appropriate; results from qualitative studies were combined using thematic synthesis Results: A total of 15,320 potentially relevant papers were identified of which 57 studies were included in the effectiveness review and one study was included in the cost-effectiveness review; most were of poor methodological quality A typology of peer-based interventions was developed Evidence suggested that peer education interventions are effective at reducing risky behaviours and that peer support services provide an acceptable source of help within the prison environment and have a positive effect on recipients; the strongest evidence came from the Listener scheme Consistent evidence from many predominantly qualitative studies suggested that being a peer deliverer was associated with positive effects across all intervention types There was limited evidence about recruitment of peer deliverers Recurring themes were the importance of prison managerial and staff support for schemes to operate successfully, and risk management There was little evidence on the cost-effectiveness of peer-based interventions An economic model, developed from the results of the effectiveness review, although based on data of variable quality and a number of assumptions, showed the cost-effectiveness of peer-led over professionally led education in prison for the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection Limitations: The 58 included studies were, on the whole, of poor methodological quality Conclusions: There is consistent evidence from a large number of studies that being a peer worker is associated with positive health Peer support services can also provide an acceptable source of help within the prison environment and can have a positive effect on recipients This was confirmed by expert evidence Research into cost-effectiveness is sparse but a limited HIV-specific economic model, although based on a number of assumptions and evidence of variable quality, showed that peer interventions were cost-effective compared with professionally led interventions Well-designed intervention studies are needed to provide robust evidence including assessing outcomes for the target population, economic analysis of cost-effectiveness and impacts on prison health services More research is needed to examine issues of reach, utilisation and acceptability from the perspective of recipients and those who choose not to receive peer support Study registration: This study was registered as PROSPERO CRD42012002349 Funding: The National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme

/pdf/a-systematic-review-of-the-effectiveness-and-cost-df01elfyyq.pdf

A systematic review of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of peer-based interventions to maintain and improve offender health in prison settings

This article examines whether employment outcomes for exoffenders are associated with employers’ subjective belief in redeemability, mediated through exoffenders’ objective desistance signals. An online factorial vignette survey was completed by 367 employers, which examined their hiring decisions in the context of exoffender job applicants. OLS regression and serial multiple mediation analyses revealed that both belief in redeemability and desistance signals positively and significantly predicted employers’ hiring decisions. As well, exoffenders’ objective desistance signals mediated the association between belief in redeemability and employment outcomes. These findings highlight the importance for exoffenders to effectively communicate their desistance from crime to employers in their endeavors to obtain employment.

/pdf/an-exception-to-the-rule-belief-in-redeemability-desistance-3vr8ymyn46.pdf

An exception to the rule: Belief in redeemability, desistance signals, and the employer’s decision to hire a job applicant with a criminal record

This article presents prisoners' perspectives on participation in a prison employment project. Forty-four interviews were conducted with 28 offenders, in prison and post release, to explore motivations for taking part, views on training experience, expectations of how it might help employment prospects and the extent to which expectations were fulfilled. Perceived benefits included accruing a qualification and work experience, a fulfilling role relative to other employment opportunities in prison and increased self-confidence through project activities. However, problems of short-term funding for the project as well as potential for unrealistic expectations about employment chances were also noted.

Preparing for Employment: Prisoners' Experience of Participating in a Prison Training Programme

Sexual offenders, violent offenders, and community reentry: Challenges and treatment considerations

Findings from a recent survey among employers in the north-west of England suggest that personal support is the most favoured type of support both for employers and for ex-offenders when considering employing (or employing more) ex-offenders. The findings also reveal that employers need more information on the relevance and the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, as well as guidance on risk assessment and management procedures, in order to enable them to make informed decisions about, and increase their confidence in, employing ex-offenders.

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm/hojo_501.pdf?abstractid=1085682&mirid=2

A not so Well-Lit Path: Employers' Perspectives on Employing Ex-offenders

Race Relations in English and Welsh prisons have a history of critical events and flawed management. There is evidence that at the policy level the Prison Service has responded to policy directives to improve race relations. This article is based on research that examined the relationship between national legislation, Prison Service policy and practice. The focus of the article is the views of operational Prison Service staff, revealing the complexities in implementing race relations policy in the testing prison environment. The article concludes that the policies implemented by the Prison Service appear, theoretically, to be a rational and appropriate means of achieving positive race relations. Operationally the Prison Service has experienced the challenges of the prison setting, the need for proper resources and the stresses and strains in meeting the demands of its own race relations policy.

Ilona Haslewood-Pócsik

Papers

A not so Well-Lit Path: Employers' Perspectives on Employing Ex-offenders

'Trying to get it right' What prison staff say about implementing race relations policy