ABSTRACT
Values discussions can be notoriously complex and concepts difficult to grasp. The aim of this chapter therefore is to offer a simple introduction to ‘values talk’ in the criminal justice system and begins by investigating the ‘values’ statements made by different organisations within the criminal justice system as a way of grounding the discussion in the precise guidance given to practitioners in various organisations. An interpretation of this material is offered by adapting a framework of analysis from the social work literature which suggests that there are three levels at which discussion of values occurs. This framework is not context-specific and is a useful aid for understanding the different levels at which ‘values’ discussions take place in the criminal justice system.
