Introduction

The origins of this collection lie in the development of an international network of researchers interested in one way or another in ‘offender supervision’. The initial idea to establish such a network was Chris Trotter’s. During the European Society of Criminology’s Annual Conference in 2006 in Tübingen in Germany, Chris discussed the idea with Peter Raynor and Fergus McNeill. The initial discussions centred on a common concern; although the ‘what works?’ movement in probation (or correctional) research had achieved a great deal, new impetus seemed to us to be necessary to allow the effectiveness agenda to develop beyond its historical emphasis on the principles of effective programmes. Reflecting our different backgrounds, interests and experiences – both in practice and in research – we saw broader questions and issues arising both from effectiveness research itself (for example, about the role of workers’ practice skills, styles and approaches, and about the organisational contexts of interventions) and from research on desistance from offending and how it can be best supported (for example, about the significance of personal and professional relationships in the process, and about the importance of developing social capital).