The Antisocial Behavior - Research Proposal Example

Proposal: How effective is the antisocial behaviour order at preventing young people from reoffending once a person has been sanctioned? BY YOU YOUR SCHOOL INFO HERE DATE HERE Introduction The Antisocial Behaviour Order (ASBO) is a civil regulation introduced in the United Kingdom in 1998, designed to correct behaviours closely associated with rebellious or disruptive manifestations in a situation where correction is favourable to criminal prosecution. The goal of the ASBO is to restrict an individual’s freedoms and behaviours in some method, sanctioning an individual who manifests antisocial behaviour in order to rectify future instances of antisocial behaviour in a member of society. The House of Commons reports case studies of sanctions such as ordering a young girl to cease spitting in public, banning a 15 year old from carrying any materials that can produce graffiti, and coercing two young brothers from congregating in peer groups consisting of more than three individuals (House of Commons 2005). The main goal of the ASBO is to ensure that children and adults with proven antisocial behaviours do not continue to exhibit these behavioural deficiencies in the future. However, there is a significant gap in empirical research indicating whether the ASBO is effective in reducing recidivism rates. Between 2000 and 2011, over 21,640 ASBOs had been issued throughout the United Kingdom (Easton and Piper 2012). By 2011, 57.3 percent of issued ASBOs had been breached, leading to judicial orders for referral to custodial correction (Easton and Piper). Research question How effective is the antisocial behaviour order at reducing antisocial behaviour recidivism rates once the youth has been sanctioned with the ASBO? Timescale The following represents the projected timeline: Conduct the foundational literature review underpinning construction of a measurement instrument for primary research – four weeks. Identify an appropriate sample, recruiting and distribution of completed instruments – three weeks. Analyse data findings and correlate data compared to existing literature and empirical studies (when available) and link to sociological theory – three weeks. Construct the final project and submit for feedback, evaluation and revision – four weeks Total time to completion – 14 Weeks Overview Considerable criticism of the effectiveness of ASBOs in reducing reoffending prevails as the dominant theme suggesting that the system is unsuccessful and fruitless. Burney (2002) calls the ASBO an insignia of disciplinary populism. A recent survey of British citizens found that only eight percent of survey respondents believed ASBOs contributed to any measurable decline in antisocial behaviour in the UK today (Canseco 2013). Whilst this is only subjective opinion from a small cross-section of society members, it does tend to suggest that the antisocial behaviour order might not be effective as a future deterrent of recurring antisocial behaviours with youths. Summary There is simply not enough empirical studies conducted on youths that have been sanctioned by the ASBO to determine what underpins their recidivism rates; when relevant. There is also little statistical support indicating success ratios of ASBO as founded on legitimate and reputable studies. Hence, this study can provide unique knowledge regarding the potential socio-psychological factors that might underpin motivations to breach ASBOs for actual youths sanctioned by this system whilst also exploring its statistical effectiveness predictability. Literature review Prior and Paris (2005) assert that coercive-style sanctioning methods are unreliable in reducing recidivism rates with young offenders. In fact, for reasons uncertain, this type of restrictive sanctioning can even increase the level of reoffending instances in young people (Prior and Paris). In fact, McGuire (2002) justifies this assertion, citing over 23 different meta-analytical studies that had been conducted between 1985 and 2001 which illustrate that punitive sanctioning, typical of ASBO, does not provide long-term incentive to avoid youth reoffending. Perhaps McGuire (2002) as well as Prior and Paris (2005) are correct, as statistics illustrate that in 2011, 73 percent of ASBOs delivered to teenagers in the UK were breached (Travis 2011). Young people are seeing issuance of an ASBO as being a type of honour badge which is contributing to recurring breaches (Walker 2013; Travis 2011). Methodology The study takes a qualitative approach to research, utilising interviews with real-world youths that have been issued an ASBO for anti-social behaviour. Qualitative research is most valuable to understand the underpinning rationale and catalysts for why youths might potentially see ASBOs as a sign of honour and why recidivism rates appear so high for this particular system. The research takes an interpretivistic approach which asserts that reality is constructed by social factors that conflicts the process of measuring attitudes and behaviours statistically (Rubin and Rubin 2012). Why youths might be reoffending is not a static phenomenon without socio-psychological implications, hence refuting a positivist school of thought in approach to the study. Recruitment strategy The researcher will contact relevant, local agencies that work with antisocial youths in a counselling fashion or in accordance to ASBO compliance efforts. This will require in-depth online searches, contact with relevant policing or judicial authorities, and the organisations themselves to find an appropriate agency that can assist in identifying an appropriate sample of youths that have been served and breached their ASBO orders. Via telephone, the researcher will inform these relevant agencies and institutions of an impending research project designed to assess the effectiveness of the ASBO and determine what might underpin an intention to breach the order once issues. Through assistance of relevant agencies involved with youth services and the ASBO, access to an appropriate youth sample can be guaranteed. Once identified, the researcher will attempt to recruit between 7 and 10 youth ASBO-breachers to participate in 60 minute interviews asking questions related to sociological and psychological theory, generic questions about their experiences whilst under sanctions from ASBO, and their perceptions of the effectiveness and consequences of this system. Conclusion With the evidence suggesting that ASBO is not effective in reducing youth recidivism rates, this study maintains the potential of shedding new and contemporary light on the drivers that might constitute an incentive or motivation to breach these orders. The study may, additionally, uncover that youths actually do find these effective and consequential; hence the researcher must maintain an unbiased and impartial approach to research without assuming that the system is largely ineffective; even though the existing statistics tend to illustrate this. Bibliography Burney, E. (2002). Talking tough, acting coy, The Howard Journal, 41(5), p.469. Canseco, M. (2012). Britons remain unconvinced by antisocial behaviour orders, Angus Reid Public Opinion. [online] Available at: http://angusreidglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/2012.02.22_Asbos_BRI.pdf (accessed 8 May 2015). Easton, S. and Piper, C. (2012). Sentencing and punishment: the quest for justice. Oxford: Oxford University Press. House of Commons. (2005). Antisocial behaviour orders – analysis of the first six years. [online] Available at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmhaff/80/80we20.htm (accessed 7 May 2015). McGuire, J. (2002). Offender rehabilitation and treatment: effective policies and programmes to reduce reoffending. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons. Prior, D. and Paris, A. (2005). Preventing children’s involvement in crime and anti-social behaviour: a literature review, National Evaluation of the Children’s Fund. [online] Available at: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130401151715/http://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/RR623.pdf (accessed 7 May 2015). Rubin, H.J. and Rubin, I.S. (2012). Qualitative interviewing: the art of hearing data. London: Sage. Travis, A. (2011). ASBO breach rate among young teenagers hits 73%, The Guardian. [online] Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2011/jan/25/asbo-breach-rate-young-teenagers (accessed 8 May 2015). Walker, J. (2013). ASBOs and their effectiveness, The Responsible Citizen. [online] Available at: http://www.responsiblecitizen.co.uk/asbos-effectiveness.html (accessed 6 May 2015). Read More