The Significance of "Time' When Finishing Time - A Case Study on Holistic relationship-Based Approaches to Supporting Re/Integration for Criminal Justice Affected People

This chapter draws on a series of externally funded research projects at an award-winning community-based resettlement charity, LandWorks. The charity makes use of an innovative, holistic, relationship-based theory of change model in its approach to resettlement and since opening in 2013 has offered over 200 six-to-twelve-month placements to people released on temporary licence from the local prison and others referred through probation (collectively called trainees). Following a narrative criminology perspective and thematic analysis of over 120 interview transcripts, from people interviewed during their time on placement and/or following their release into the community since 2015, mostly carried out for the Photographic-electronic Narrative (PeN) project (https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="https://penprojectlandworks.org/">https://penprojectlandworks.org/), this chapter highlights the importance of “time” when developing a bespoke person-centred response to resettlement in a trusting, safe and non-judgemental environment. Moreover, the research evidence from this case study supports the argument in favour of a holistic relationship-centred approach to resettlement, whilst emphasising that this needs to be individualised and long term. There are no “one size fits all” or “quick fixes” when working to support resettlement for people with convictions, it takes “time”.