Economic Development and Urban Revitalization Essay

Economic Development and Urban Revitalization - Essay Example Traceable to the reconstruction efforts envisaged after World War II, in an effort of reconstructing Europe, many new towns and cities became founded on this ideal (Bingham & Mier, 1994). As Michael and Robert (1996) allude, they were created around TOD communities with various TOD principles became incorporated into the planning and subsequent development of these areas. Half-a-mile radius circular planning has been the standardized measure between which TOD catchment areas were placed. This distance does correspond to a distance that is manageable, for existing populations to walk, in the quest of accessing transportation. The essence behind this is the provision of features designed with the intention of encouraging utility of public transport means; in addition to distinguishing such a development from what is considered urban sprawls. As part of a given region’s larger undertaking of community economic development, TODs do entail principles of CED strategy. This is primarily a strategic plan that aims at enhancing a given community’s economic development. This is informed by the fact that such strategies can be utilized in not only updating the region’s official Community Plans, but also zoning by-laws. This is informed by the fact that priorities based on economic development, often do have a fundamental impact on community policies; and specifically so, in regard to land-use planning. A professional in economic development would thus be majorly advantaged, having the requisite knowledge of CED strategy; to be further improved through TOD initiatives (Michael & Robert, 1996). In augmenting CED strategies with TOD planning as Fischer (1995) envisages, urban habitations are interconnected in a networked manner, via the prevailing transport network systems; thus enabling easy movement of goods and society.  

Critical success factors Essay Example for Free

Critical success factors Essay Broad market coverage due to its abilityto handle difficult cases at the intersectionOf laws and digital technology. * Human resources competencies-highly skilledstaffs had background in computing, investigative * Or law enforcement.| * Growth without direction-officeheads did not understand the purpose of new strategic plans, they were confused with their roles and responsibilities(overcommitted and uncertainty) * Loss of corporate direction los of corporate control. * Inappropriate organisational structure and control system.| * Rapid growth and expansion- They needed to work rapidly and accurately, any delay could lead to corrupted data. * Data challenge-Complexity of the internet clouds and data privacy laws. * Demand for both digital forensics and * e-discovery services reflected unanticipated occurrence of a data breach. * Increase in competitors due to identified value creation.| Did the acquisition of Docuity provide Stroz Friedberg with a competitive advantage? Acquisition of docuity provided added competitive advantage on effective search tools, improved reliability and service and there by better branding and recognition in the market. Docuity’s patent pending technology and rule based processing ensured better cost controls and quality throughout the process, accounted for approximately 27% of total billings. What steps have been taken to overcome the firm’s growing pains?How do you assess the steps? The rapid growth of the firm was successful but challenging. Throughthe review of firms cultural systems,structure,and process had resulted in a significant set of changes. Organisational review raised several significant issues. They were collectively described as growing pains. Following are the challenges faced, steps taken to tackle it and advantages of each steps. They introduced new systems and structures that clarified roles and responsibilities, instilled greater accountability and improved discipline and planning. CHALLENGE ON ORGANISATIONAL AND CULTURE: * Communication * confused with roles and resposiblities * Cordintaion and decision making mechanisms * Tension between legal and technical staffs.CHALLENGES ON STRUCTURE AND PROCESS * Operational and Business processAbsence of annual financial planning process * Poor organisational structure| STEPS * Firm invested in knowledge management systems.eg:share point,JIRA and salesforce.com. * Training and orientation to staff * Implemented annual financial processand involving them in planning process.Introduced internal financial statements. * Created organisational chart| Advantages/Assessments * These system provided transparency in RD and software projects ,and also more systematization and predictability.staff felt part of firm’s growth and activities. * More clear picture on annual revenue targets and expected growth rate. * Made responsibility more clearer and instilled accountablity| What should Stroz and Friedberg do about the disagreement over 2010 financial targets? Stroz and Friedberg should have better communicated what make it possible to achieve aggressive targets. strong client relationship, branding and name recognition in new and existing markets, working smarter are the key factors for generating revenue.

computer time structure :: essays research papers

What is the time structure of a computer and, more specifically on-line interactive communities? How does this structure dictate our conformity to the medium and on-line environment and what we gain and/or lose in doing so?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When we think of modern day technology, such as computers or 2-way pagers, we know that it is all an effort to save â€Å"time†. No longer do we have to go to the library for a small amount of information, now we can just log on the internet. No longer do we have to â€Å"waste time† going to store to buy products, we can just log on the internet and buy it there. No longer do we have to pick up the telephone to call a numerous amount of people to convey a message, we just e-mail everyone. So you see, the computer is suggested to be a time saver, a device that allows you to execute tasks more efficiently and more quickly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The time structure of a computer is described as this: â€Å"the central processor of the computer contains within it an electronic clock, whose extremely rapid pulses determine when one operation has ended and another is to begin† (J.D. Bolter). This is measured by megahertz or the newest form of speed is called gigahertz. Therefore more tasks can be executed in less time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The computer clock is somewhat similar to a digital clock based on the fact that it can be used to measure duration, determine the present point in time, and can even act as an alarm clock. The purpose of a clock is to tell time on the outside; however, computer time is internal. The computer has its on time structure when it comes to completing tasks. For example, you might not be able to continue typing a document and save it simultaneously. On the outside, we are looking at the time we have to wait to continue our tasks but in the â€Å"computer’s microworld† this may be normal time passage. As far as the computer is concerned no extra time has been spent to complete the task. We have too many expectations of the time frame of a computer. How many times have we bombarded the computer with so much information that is freezes up or crashes? That is because we want everything to occur at that instant. Which in turn results in a high level of anxiety and anger.

Comparing Microsoft Windows NT and Unix

The decision to utilize Microsoft Windows NT Server or one of the many Unix operating systems is the concern of many IS managers around the world today. Unix is not a single operating system; it refers to a family of operating systems which includes AIX, BSDI, Digital UNIX, FreeBSD, HP-UX, IRIX, Linux, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Pyramid, SCO, Solaris, SunOS, just to name a few. Microsoft Windows NT has a well-known reputation. But these managers have to consider whether or not choosing a Microsoft product can increase the company's profits. The cost of the network operating system (NOS) will be the ultimate factor in their decision. It is not just the initial cost of the hardware however, but rather many other factors will need to be considered to insure that further maintenance costs are not overwhelming. For instance, software licenses will need to be procured. Technical support agreements will need to be assessed. The costs of upgrades/service packs, hardware upgrades will need to be weighed for both types of systems. Determining which system has a greater occurrence of glitches can be a factor in estimating lost profits for every hour of downtime. If the company should experience a glitch, how substantial will personnel costs for recovering/recreating data be? Knowledgeable systems administrators will need to be employed to maintain the system. This task is not to be taken lightly as these are only some of the situations to be considered prior to making a decision on which NOS to purchase. Since accruing costs is a primary concern for managers, the conditions previously discussed give an indication that a combination of server hardware and operating systems seems to be the most cost-effective option for long term use. Unix is a fully developed, group of operating systems known for its performance, reliability, and security in a server environment. On the other hand, Windows NT Server has the advantage of Windows 95's popularity. This desktop operating system is already being used in homes and offices everywhere. Before making the operating system decision a manager should consider visiting the local library to research the particular subject. It will be difficult to find current unbiased literature. But a determined manager or QM student should be able to separate the important information from personal preferences. Most of the older books are concerned with theory using Unix as a guide. For current information, periodicals are the best source. But as stated earlier, much of it is very biased one way or the other. The preferences are split down the middle with half of the professionals supporting Unix or a Unix variant and the other half supporting Microsoft products. Operating systems (OS) were originally developed as a large set of instructions for large mainframe computers in order to control the hardware resources of the mainframe. Thereafter, they have been developed to run on smaller and smaller computers, first mini computers then on the new personal computers (PC). But, the main job of the OS was the same, a layer between the hardware and the user. The main reason for having an OS is for the application programmers to have a common base upon which to run their applications, no matter what hardware is being used. One important function of the OS is to perform file management. This allows applications to read or write to disk, regardless of the hardware being used or how it is stored. Without this feature programmers would have to write new programs for every different type of hardware and every different type of hardware configuration. However, Microsoft Windows is the dominant PC OS, so most of the applications written today are written for the Windows environment. When businesses initially began to use desktop PCs in the 1980†³s, there was no connection between PCs and mainframes or between the PCs themselves. The PC was normally used for word processing, spreadsheets, etc. Soon users wanted to more efficiently share resources than disk swapping allowed. A solution emerged, networking, and to control these resources, network operating systems (NOS) were developed. At first NOSs allowed the most basic of functions like sharing printers and files. Soon the NOSs role expanded greatly to management of the resources in the local network, and to link up with other local area networks (LAN), therefore creating wide area networks (WAN). NOS's controlled the network through a server. The server only controlled the resources directly linked to it and the PCs used a second OS that controlled their specific hardware. Peer-to-peer networks later developed. While using a peer-to-peer LAN there was no need for a dedicated server, which was great for small businesses with few users. But with many users and large amounts of data, a greater need surfaced for a dedicated server. Managers without knowledge or experience with systems and network administration find it difficult to choose a server platform. This report will attempt to compare and contrast Microsoft Windows NT Server and Unix, a mixture of commercial and non-commercial operating systems originating from the same source so they share many similarities. The main focus of the paper is to assist managers in choosing a network operating system using quantitative methods. The issues of comparison discussed are in the areas of product costs and licensing, functionality, reliability, and performance. These are presented to provide a more complete view of these products. Most managers will agree that the mere cost of an operating system is trivial when evaluating the big picture. Although Windows NT Server 4.0 can be expensive, a Unix variant can be bought for a minor dollar amount. In order to match the functionality of a BSDI (a variant of Unix) installation, additional Microsoft products and third party solutions would bring the final price of a comparable NT solution within a reasonable cost. What can you expect from Windows NT Server and from Unix immediately after acquiring the systems? NT and Unix can both communicate with many different types of computers. Both Unix and NT can secure sensitive data and keep unauthorized users off the network. Essentially, both operating systems meet the minimum requirements for operating systems functioning in a networked environment. As computers become more and more utilized in our world today, reliability is the more significant feature, even more important than speed. Although performance is largely a function of hardware platform, it is in the area of reliability that the choice of operating systems has the most influence. An operating system may offer more functionality. Also, it may be more scalable. To add to that it may even offer greater ease of system management. But if you are constantly being challenged with glitches in the system and are unable to even get any use out of the system because it is always down, what good are these advantages? Processing power is largely a function of computer hardware rather than of the operating system. Since most commercial Unix operating systems run only on high-end workstations or servers, Unix has historically been considered an operating system for high-end hardware. To say that Unix outperforms NT based on the results of differing hardware would be unfair to Microsoft. One should compare NT Server's performance to that of Linux or FreeBSD, since all three operating systems run on the same hardware which is Intel, the hardware-type most often used with NT. A truly unbiased comparison of performance would have to be based on benchmarks, but these are few and usually only focus on specific areas like web performance. There are some specific issues that affect performance. Unix does not require a graphical user interface to function while NT does. Graphics require incredible amounts of disk space and memory, the same holds true for sound files. This report provides assistance to managers in selecting a NOS to implement. Comparison points have been presented which are factors in the decision making process. These decision factors have become apparent through research and experience. Each specific decision factor is weighted on its significance concerning the network operating system. Listed below is the comparison of the factors between Unix and NT. *The training factors are based on amount of training required, less training is rated as more desirable. Using quantitative methods with the numbers in figure 1 the following scenario has been developed. A manager is interested in purchasing a NOS for his company. He would benefit by first evaluating the items on this list, rating each factor from one to ten, the most desirable being ten. An example is given below.

Comparison Between Twelfth Night and the Rivals

Final Paper A0981150 Compare Twelfth Night with The Rivals, both of them are comedies evolving around several couples. The two plays contain the device of disguise and mistaken identity. In Twelfth Night, Viola disguises herself as Cesario, which attracts Orsino and Olivia; while in The Rivals, Jack Absolute disguises himself as Ensign Beverley, who fascinates Lydia. Speaking of similarities, both the disguises lead to the characters’ affairs, and they are proved to be true love at the end of the plays.On the other hand, as for differences, in Twelfth Night, Viola disguises herself as a man, and that results in her complex situation, a love triangle. Instead, in The Rivals, Jack takes the disguise as an ensign, which does not alter his real gender as a man; therefore, his situation is purer, that is, earning Lydia’s heart only and not drawing other admirer. Both the plays mention the communication of mails. In Twelfth Night, Maria writes letters to Malvolio, which purpo rts to be from Olivia.The function of letters in this play is to trick Malvolio, who is such a fool that believes the countess Olivia, a woman of a higher rank than his, would fall in love with him. In The Rivals, the function of letters is simpler, that is, Jack writes to Lydia to court her under the mistaken identity of a poor Ensign in order to win her affection or some other sentiment. In The Rivals, Jack Absolute’s line â€Å"Pho! man, is not music the food of love? is an allusion to Twelfth Night. In the beginning of Twelfth Night, Orsino says â€Å"If music be the food of love, play on†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬  Nevertheless, these two characters utter such statement in very different situations. Orsino, at that time, is melancholic and insanely in love, by contrast, Jack says his line when his friend, Faulkland, is getting crazy since his lover’s merriment during his absence irritates him. Thus Jack plays the role of a calm, reasonable, and comforting friend.Compar e the situations the two characters Orsino and Jack are in, their state of mind is completely different. The former stands for sentimental emotion, while the latter represents rationality. The two plays also involve the same element, duel. In Twelfth Night, Sir Andrew demands a duel with Cesario in order to have Olivia as lover. In The Rivals, encouraged by Sir Lucius, Acres writes a challenge note to â€Å"Beverley† to a duel.However, these two fights are in vain, the disturbers cannot achieve their goals to win the girls they want. These plots seem unimportant, but the duels actually help the meant-to-be couples to assure themselves that they have chosen the suitable ones for love and marriage. On account of the duels, the couples either reunite or get to know each other’s true identity. Generally speaking, the duels add much entertainment to the plays. Most important of all, they elicit the happy endings.

Creative Writing Coursework Essays

Creative Writing Coursework Essays Creative Writing Coursework Essay Creative Writing Coursework Essay Essay Topic: Creative The silence in the dark and dingy room was so loud it was almost waiting to be shattered. The dampness was filling the room. Every breath taken of the air tasted stale and dead. Cobwebs filled every corner in the room. The dust was a carpet for the floor. The room eagerly waited to see the next victim and it wouldnt have to wait for long.Its blood lust was here stinking and putrid like a rotting jailer. This room imprisoned many tortured memories. The sounds of screaming and desperate crying trapped for all eternity.The decaying old oak door stabbed the silence in the room, as it opened. It sounded like nails on a blackboard, the sound that sends shivers down your spine. A sudden stench of an infested swamp cluttered the room. Deep and powerful footsteps echoed on the four walls, belongs to a tall man with a figure like a bull. With every footstep taken his feet were indented in the dust, as if he was walked on snow. The man was dragging an old feeble bloke ac ross the floor with his beard running along side him. Two other men crab walk in carrying a wooden headrest, and a sword. A sword that has taken more lives than disease itself.The old mans head was placed upon the rest. The bull-like man pulled a shiny black mask over his face with great dignity. He picked up the magnificent sword, even in this room the sword still glowed. The man was waiting for his life to be ended, he pleading his innocence.Death was sliding from the damp lifeless walls, looking upon his next victim. His smirk was growing bigger by the second. Almost impatient he crawled down onto the floor. Blood surrounding him from the previous criminals. The droplets were starting to set, each footstep taken vibrated them. Death now staring his next child in the eyes coldly.The sword is drawn back behind the masked mans head. It swoops down fiercely. Almost in slow motion the sword breaks the surface of the skin. Then cracks the spine. The head fell and hit the ground with a hard thud, piercing my eardrums. Blood spurted from his headless body, staining the dust. The blood now trickling. Now stopped, and the room silent once more. Death is pleased and disappears into the moist, misty air. Until the next time.

Learn How to Tell Time in Italian

Learn How to Tell Time in Italian The simplest way to inquire about the time in Italian is by using the verb essere: Che ore sono? Che ora à ¨? – What time is it? You can use the above sentences interchangeably when asking about the time, but when responding you will always use sono le unless you are talking about 1 p.m. in the 12 hour clock (à © luna) or mezzogiorno and mezzanotte: Sono le diciassette. – It is the 17th hour or 5 pm.È mezzogiorno. – Its noon. Be Polite But even better, if you want to be polite add an excuse me into the mix: Mi scusi, che ora à ¨? – Excuse me, what time is it?Mi scusi, che ore sono? – Excuse me, what time is it? The two questions have the same meaning and basic structure. The difference is that the first uses ora à ¨? (is it now?), while the second uses sono le? (is it?). Both uses are perfectly acceptable, but the first conveys a slightly greater sense of immediacy. Useful Vocabulary: Morning, Afternoon, Evening and Night To indicate a.m. add di mattina: Sono le 11 di mattina. – It’s 11 in the morning. To indicate afternoon add del pomeriggio (12 noon to 5 pm): Sono le 2 del pomeriggio. – It’s 2 in the afternoon. To indicate evening use di sera . This period of time changes with seasons but it usually sits between the afternoon and the late night, from 5 pm to 9 or 10 pm: Sono le sei di sera. – It’s 6 in the evening. To indicate night time use di notte (10 pm to early morning): Sono le 3 di notte. – It’s three in the morning. Must-Know Vocabulary Words Additionally, there are a number of important words and phrases to know in relation to telling time in Italian. Heres a brief list with their English equivalents: Una mezz’ora (A half hour):Mamma arriva tra mezzora. – Mom arrives in thirty minutes.Un quarto d’ora (A quarter of an hour):Ho bisogno di un quarto dora per farmi una doccia. – I need 15 minutes to take a shower.A volte (Sometimes):A volte mi prendo un caffà ¨. – Sometimes I buy myself a coffee.Due volte al giorno (Twice a day):Passeggio al cane due volte al giorno. – I walk the dog twice a day.Tutti i giorni (Every day):Io vado al gym tutti i giorni. – I go to the gym every day.Ogni tanto (From time to time):Ogni tanto visito la mia zia in Chicago. – From time to time I visit my aunt in Chicago.Mancano cinque minuti alle... (It’s five minutes to...)Mancano cinque minuti alle 3 pm. – Its five to 3 pm.A che ora chiude? (What time does it close?):A che ora chiude la piscina? – What time does the pool close?A che ora apre? (What time does it open?):A che ora apre il panificio? – What time does the baker y open?A che ora comincia? (What time does it start?):A che ora comincia il film? – What time does the movie start? Reminder Dont forget that the 24 hour clock usage is widespread in Italy and most parts of Europe. In short, 1 p.m. is expressed as 13:00, while 5:30 p.m. is 17:30. An appointment or invitation for 19:30 is meant for 7:30 p.m. But the 12 hour clock is well known and everyone will understand when you use it. Finally, the months, as well as the days of the week in Italian, will give you more vocabulary and broaden your skills in the language.

Proportionally Resize an Image (TBitmap)

Proportionally Resize an Image (TBitmap) In graphics programming a thumbnail is a reduced-size version of a picture. Heres an idea for your next application: create a form picker to let users easily select and navigate through open forms by displaying thumbnails of them all in a dialog window. Interesting idea? Sounds like the Quick Tabs feature of the IE 7 browser :) Before actually creating such a neat feature for your next Delphi application, you need to know how to grab the image of the form (form-screen shot) and how to proportionally resize it to the desired thumbnail image. Proportional Picture Resizing: Creating Thumbnail Graphics Below you will find a block of code to take the image of a form (Form1) by using the GetFormImage method. The resulting TBitmap is then resized to fit the maximum thumbnail width (200 pixels) and/or height (150 pixels).Resizing maintains the aspect ratio of the image. The resulting image is then displayed in a TImage control, named Image1. const   Ã‚  maxWidth 200;   Ã‚  maxHeight 150; var   Ã‚  thumbnail : TBitmap;   Ã‚  thumbRect : TRect; begin   Ã‚  thumbnail : Form1.GetFormImage;   Ã‚  try   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  thumbRect.Left : 0;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  thumbRect.Top : 0;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  //proportional resize   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  if thumbnail.Width thumbnail.Height then   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  begin   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  thumbRect.Right : maxWidth;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  thumbRect.Bottom : (maxWidth * thumbnail.Height) div thumbnail.Width;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  end   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  else   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  begin   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  thumbRect.Bottom : maxHeight;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  thumbRect.Right : (maxHeight * thumbnail.Width) div thumbnail.Height;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  end;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  thumbnail.Canvas.StretchDraw(thumbRect, thumbnail) ; //resize image   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  thumbnail.Width : thumbRect.Right;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  thumbnail.Height : thumbRect.Bottom;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  //display in a TImage control   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Image1.Picture.Assign(thumbnail) ;   Ã‚  finally   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  thumbnail.Free;   Ã‚  end; end; Note: The GetFormImage only copies the form client area - if you need to take the entire screen shot of a form (including its border) youll need a different approach ...more about it next time.

International Curriculum. What impact does the International Primary Essay

International Curriculum. What impact does the International Primary Curriculum have on the current National Curriculums - Essay Example It can also be defined as the planned, organised and implemented learning that takes place in schools. Each country has its own modules composing of different topics and syllabuses. Currently, there is an ongoing process of developing a national curriculum starting from kindergarten to the age of twelve years, introducing English, mathematics, history and science subjects followed by languages, arts and geography (Beck, 2000,209). The goal of international curriculum is to improve the quality of education and competitiveness across schools in the nation. It has been realised that the national curriculum did not prepare children for the future, thus it is not standard. With the changes in economy and technology, there is need to adopt a healthier curriculum that will help teachers and parents to know what children are supposed to learn and at what age to open their mind, an effort to prepare them to live in the contemporary world. The curriculum covers learning framework, professional development and evaluation of both teachers and students to assess their potential (Rajaonarison, 1995, 12). Literature Review Initially introduced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, National curriculum became a curriculum for primary and secondary state schools under the education reform Act 1988. The curriculum excludes private schools which have the mandate to design their own curricula. The law dictates teaching all students the basic curriculum of religious education and national curriculum. The primary objective of national curriculum was to make the material taught across school standard in order to promote evaluation of individual schools. Parents were given an opportunity to decide which schools their children should be enrolled. The two fundamental aims of the curriculum were to lay a ground for children’s learning as well as development of their social, moral, religious and cultural background in preparation for opportunities, experiences and responsibilities of life. The school is supposed to prepare students with the necessary literacy and numerical skills, information and communication technology, opportunities for creativity and innovation. The compulsory subjects were science, design and technology. Each topic is seen as contributing to promote spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, citizenship and key skills. It is meant to provide learning opportunities for children with disabilities, special educational needs, and those from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Other extra curricula activities besides the national modules were designed to cater for the need of personal needs such as speech and language therapy, use of ICT, health and safety (Coulby,1996, 27). International curriculum aims at ensuring that the laid down learning objectives, method and content of instruction, teaching versus learning strategies and teaching aids will all contribute to academic excellence. Hence, the purpose is to investigate the social effect on the method of preparation and determine the role played by politics in education. This information will establish a foundation for future action with the goal of improving the curriculum and helping people to realize change in such a multiracial and multicultural society. The international primary curriculum is large creative, encompasses many aspects of education including the method of instruction, teaching and teaching aids all aimed towards international mindedness and individual learning. The design ensures that teachers make learning such a busy, interactive and realistic environment for children. It is a comprehensive system where children apply where they are living with other places in the world. Thus, the aims can be summarised as improving and extending knowledge to promote

Shakespear writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Shakespear writing - Essay Example Some characters are showed in the process of transformation while their nature is changed due to some crucial events or trial. These characters are, for instance, Cordelia, who embodies good and Edmund, who symbolizes evil. King Lear's personality goes the whole way due to his folly and imprudence that lead him from denial to rage and to madness. It is customary to suppose that Shakespeare and the other writers of this period kept to the traditional conviction that human nature is interrelated with the environment, and all possible alterations break the order, which would influence both human nature and the surroundings. That is why in many Shakespeare's tragedies personal conflicts are accompanied with some natural disasters. King Lear is not an exception. Breaking one of the pattern parts leads to collapses in other essential parts. Behavior of Lear's daughters, violating all moral and natural laws, hurting their father, breaking gratitude and obedience, that are usually expressed by the children in relation to their parents, is intensified with the scene of a storm raging outdoors. This illustrates unnatural behavior of Lear's daughters and predicts his worsening condition in future. At the beginning of this tragedy King Lear is portrayed as conceited, proud and hot-tempered king. He cannot be regarded either as positive or negative character. But the subsequent events described in the play show us how his follies result in refuse from his only loving daughter. He also realizes that the other daughters who seemed to be devoted and loving before, turned out to be ungrateful and indifferent, their assurances of sincere love turned out to be just mere words. It is necessary to note that Lear realizes what will be the end of the process of changes that occur to his personality. He predicts his condition, crying: "O fool, I shall go mad!" (Act II, scene 4). In the events that are described in Act II the author uses not only cruelty of Lear's daughters, but also the symbolic elements to describe how Lear's conscience threshold is surpassed, how his personality is torn apart and how he is left to seek for his identity. This makes Lear begin his way of transformation, to his natural identity, while he gets rid of the deception and artifice, and imaginary significance of the power and throne, created by him for his own self-appraisal, he fully reconsiders his roles of father and king. Later he described in the scene representing the storm, while he tries to resist the forces of nature, and this is the scene, reflecting the idea of a human weakness. Lear seems to be a honorable man, and we know he was, and he hangs up on the feeling on love as the subject that can be measured. He thinks that the daughter he would love the most and desire to live with will be the one that will give the answer that he wishes to hear, asking the question about the number of knights they let him to keep. He states, I'll go with thee. Thy fifty yet doth double five-and-twenty, And thou are twice her love" (Act II, scene 4). By this scene and these words the author clearly makes us understand that his hero is wrong, and he will soon assure that this is not true. This is the stage of denial, while the character mistakenly compares feelings and material objects, judging the devotion and love by the empty words that mean

Coursework of innovation and technology transfer Essay

Coursework of innovation and technology transfer - Essay Example For exÐ °mple, since 1981, grÐ °ms-per-mile (gpm) emissions of cÐ °rbon monoxide Ð °nd hydrocÐ °rbons hÐ °ve been reduced to Ð ° mÐ °ximum of 4 percent of their mid-1960s levels. In Ð pril 2002, CÐ °liforniÐ ° becÐ °me the first US stÐ °te in which Ð ° bill restricting cÐ °rbon dioxide emissions from Ð °utomobiles wÐ °s introduced. Current nÐ °tionÐ °l regulÐ °tions cÐ °ll for less thÐ °n 0.25 gpm of nonmethÐ °ne hydrocÐ °rbons in vehicle exhÐ °ust, less thÐ °n 3.4 gpm of cÐ °rbon monoxide, Ð °nd less thÐ °n 0.4 gpm of nitrogen oxides. UnfortunÐ °tely, reÐ °l-world emissions of cÐ °rbon monoxide Ð °nd hydrocÐ °rbons Ð °re typicÐ °lly Ð °bout five times higher thÐ °n the levels tested in the lÐ °b, while emissions of nitrogen oxides Ð °re Ð °bout two times higher. The reÐ °son is thÐ °t some emissions tests do not mÐ °tch reÐ °l-world driving conditions very well. Ð lso, some emissions controls do not survive the weÐ °r Ð °nd teÐ °r o f driving. OverÐ °ll, this is still Ð ° mÐ °jor Ð °chievement, Ð °nd the Ð °ir is noticeÐ °bly cleÐ °ner in some U.S. cities. To respond to the chÐ °llenges of the cleÐ °ner Ð °ir Ð °nd less pollutions done by Ð °utomobiles, the electric vehicle hÐ °s been introduced on the mÐ °rket in the nineteenth century. However it fÐ °ded Ð °s the gÐ °soline powered engine took the spotlight. Current pÐ °per is Ð °imed Ð °t presenting the electric vehicle mÐ °rket chÐ °llenges Ð °nd importÐ °nce of this innovÐ °tion Ð °s one of the Ð °lternÐ °tives in the Ð °utomobile industry. The pÐ °per discusses the significÐ °nce of the technology, competitive Ð °dvÐ °ntÐ °ge on the mÐ °rket Ð °s well Ð °s risks Ð °ssociÐ °ted with the introduction of the electric vehicle to the Ð °utomobile industry. CÐ °liforniÐ ° single hÐ °ndedly pushed the Ð °utomotive industry into developing the electric vehicle to its fullest cÐ °pÐ °city by instituting, in 1990, the zero-emission vehicle mÐ °ndÐ °te, or ZEV. It requires thÐ °t Ð ° specified mÐ °nufÐ °cturer’s sÐ °les consist of

Online retailing business model company analysis Essay

Online retailing business model company analysis - Essay Example Lack of physical retail stores except their studios and warehouses enables them to devote their time and resources to the virtual operations. In this manner, they are able to maximize their revenue while cutting costs that involve setting up of retail shops. With the vision of inspiring and getting their inspiration from cool girls all over the world, Nasty Gal intends to provide their customers with truly unique items exclusive to their brand. Online retailing is a fast growing sector of the commerce world as a result of a fast growing consumer base. Increase in access to internet services has made it possible for most people to access the services of Nasty Gal. Customers can purchase clothes, shoes and accessories directly from the web page, which they receive through shipment to their location anywhere in the world from New York to Australia. Their â€Å"about us† page provides information about the history of its establishment as well as providing information about the founder and other team members behind its operations. It also provides information about their clothes, shoes and accessories, and gives instructions on how to search and make purchases (Nasty

Discussion Question 2 Week 1 Accounting Assignment

Discussion Question 2 Week 1 Accounting - Assignment Example Bookkeeping was explicitly defined as â€Å"the process of recording, in chronological order, the daily transactions of a business entity. It forms part of the accounting information system† (Miss CPA, 2011, par. 6). The accounting equation is actually defined as â€Å"An equation that reflects the two-sided nature of a business entity, assets on the one side and the sources of assets on the other side (assets = liabilities + owners’ equity)†¦ The accounting equation is the foundation for double-entry bookkeeping, which uses a scheme for recording changes in these basic types of accounts as either debits or credits such that the total of accounts with debit balances equals the total of accounts with credit balances. The accounting equation also serves as the framework for the statement of financial condition, or balance sheet, which is one of the three fundamental financial statements reported by a business† (Financial Terms, 2012). As such, the basic theoretical framework significantly impacts business decision making since it clearly pinpoints and accurately identifies the sources of changes in the different accounts of the organization. As such, understanding the concept of the accounting equation would facilitate determination of any evident deviation that significantly impacts current operation, and which were not according to the organization’s plans, thus, should be appropriately and immediately

Starbucks as an Ideal Employer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Starbucks as an Ideal Employer - Essay Example The company makes all possible effort to satisfy its employees, irrespective of the fact that either they are part-time employees or are full-time employees. Even at the growth rate of 20 percent per year, the company managed to retain a â€Å"small company atmosphere†, where the top managers used to talk with the store managers on the regular basis so that a feeling of togetherness exists in the organizational culture. Starbucks always maintained high pay scale as compared to the industry standers; also other facilities like health care benefits, not just for the full time employees, but also for the part-time workers; â€Å"work-life balance programs† to provide flexibility in the working hours to suit different requirements of different people; also provided â€Å"working solution† facility for the employees so that they can easily search for childcare or eldercare services.  The main motto of these facilities was to provide assistance to the employees so th at they can work without any hindrance or disturbance. The company pays great emphasis on recruiting their employees and training them because they believe that â€Å"right people should select right people†. Starbucks makes the huge investment for training their employees. They provide special 24-hour conduction training to all employee, during which the employees come to know about company’s mission and goal, they gather knowledge regarding coffee roasting and coffee making, and the most important thing that â€Å"how to satisfy the need of customers†. As a result of this, turn over rate is just 60 percent per year in Starbucks which is one-third of the retail industrial market (200 percent per year).   So it can be concluded that Starbucks pays a lot of attention in selecting and retaining right employees, they assist their employees in the best possible manner so that employees can provide their best services to the company. The main aim of the company is to maintain a small company culture where both the employer and employees feel like a family.

Discussion Question 2 Week 1 Accounting Assignment

Discussion Question 2 Week 1 Accounting - Assignment Example Bookkeeping was explicitly defined as â€Å"the process of recording, in chronological order, the daily transactions of a business entity. It forms part of the accounting information system† (Miss CPA, 2011, par. 6). The accounting equation is actually defined as â€Å"An equation that reflects the two-sided nature of a business entity, assets on the one side and the sources of assets on the other side (assets = liabilities + owners’ equity)†¦ The accounting equation is the foundation for double-entry bookkeeping, which uses a scheme for recording changes in these basic types of accounts as either debits or credits such that the total of accounts with debit balances equals the total of accounts with credit balances. The accounting equation also serves as the framework for the statement of financial condition, or balance sheet, which is one of the three fundamental financial statements reported by a business† (Financial Terms, 2012). As such, the basic theoretical framework significantly impacts business decision making since it clearly pinpoints and accurately identifies the sources of changes in the different accounts of the organization. As such, understanding the concept of the accounting equation would facilitate determination of any evident deviation that significantly impacts current operation, and which were not according to the organization’s plans, thus, should be appropriately and immediately

Loss Prevention Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Loss Prevention - Essay Example During the percent of the population residing I rented homes. Every other person wants to have his or her own company then each small thing regarding security becomes vital. While setting up an office, land value was not at all a constraining factor for the businessmen. The important elements of marketing plan are to precisely define the business, identify the goals and serve as the firm's resume. Pro forma balance sheet, an income statement, planning precise strategies, security and cash flow analyses comprises the basic components of a marketing plan. Preparing a marketing plan helps in the allocation of resources properly, making good decisions and handling of unseen or unexpected complications that may become hurdle in the future development of the business. One of the important aspects of marketing plan is that it provides organized information about the company and importantly a good business plan helps in attaining a loan application. Other important applications include informing the details of the company to the sales personnel, suppliers and others so that they become aware of company's goals and achievements. Retail business is a hugely profit making business. It is one of the booming businesses that have given fruitful results to those who invested to gain profits. A retail business can give good results if the infrastructure of concerned shop, market or trade is good. Basic facilities like water, electricity, food and shelter should be sufficient. Retail prices will increase when the land is in the center of the city, or in industrial areas, or in residential areas. Infrastructure of the city or town plays an important role because those are the basic amenities that an investor would look into, before buying the land. Lack of infrastructure and basic facilities would lead to downfall in prices of the land and investors will lose faith and retract the investment. This would be huge disaster for any businessman. Therefore before putting a land to sale check the basic amenities and infrastructure and the price of the land accordingly. Retail business has become a hotspot for retail businessmen domestically and internationally. The main reason for this is the presence of strong infrastructure, marketing and good facilities like electricity. One of the important factors that have increased the retail corporate is the high rate of ownership. A general definition of valuation of property is to state the actual value of the property both according to the government and private (commercial) sector. While valuating a property government will not consider the commercial demand that property is possessed with. Apart from state owned properties commercial and residential properties are in boom these days. Resident localities are fast growing and becoming some of the costliest living areas. Commercial properties that fetch income are of many kinds. Commercial show rooms and establishment of corporate offices are touching the heights of the retail business. Commercial show room owners are ready to pay any amount of money to get a place in the most commercially viable areas. One of the important things among retail companies is transportation of goods. For transportation these companies depend on companies like DHL, UPS, etc. The

Putting India to Work Legally Essay Example for Free

Putting India to Work Legally Essay In order to remain India’s largest employer, they had to keep up with the explosive growth and competition in the telecommunications, financial services, and retail sectors. 2. ) Going forward, TeamLease has faced a few challenges along the road. First, TeamLease decided to move from a decentralized to a centralized structure for operations, causing fear and resistance from clients who were afraid of the loss of personalized services and fear from TeamLease employees who disliked the idea of relocating. TeamLease also had a difficult time filling open positions. Many people were registered with the government-run employment exchanges and many of these people were not fully qualified for the job. TeamLease also tried to partner with training companies but there was no training company that would accept their concept of paying for their services only after their trainee has been placed with a job. They also took a big hit during the 2009 recession causing the open job market to drop dramatically and as well as a decrease in client support. . ) The competitors that worry me the most are Addeco and Randstad. Addeco seems to be the largest HR staffing service company followed by Randstad. Addeco is a major threat with over 33,000 employees and 5,500 branches, in over 60 countries. Randstad has 28,700 employees, 3,500 branches, in over 40 countries. TeamLease on the other hand has 75,000 employees in 600 branches. TeamLease may have more employees, but Randstad and Adecco seems to have more qualified employees and are more spread out worldwide. TeamLeast has the least amount of branches among its top competitors.I believe that TeamLease should put more money into staffing and training in order to have more suitable and a more experienced staff in order to maintain competitive advantage. They should also try to increase or spread out more of their branches to other countries. TeamLease should also put more effort into marketing and their advertising campaign. Last, they should consider offering employee incentives such as days off or bonuses’.

Future of Bangladeshi Print Media

Future of Bangladeshi Print Media Future of Bangladeshi Print Media: Strategy of  Survival of Two Highest circulated print Media in Bangladesh Aritra Ankan Mitra Introduction This paper tries to find out the challenges and the strategies to retain or hold the position of the most circulated print media in Bangladesh which is, known as Prothom Alo and The Daily Star after the online era became popular in Bangladesh. They are not only the print media which are facing the problem after online media came in limelight, but as they are the highest circulated in Bangladesh, if it’s possible to find out their problem, it can be assumed what are the others’ current positions in the industry. There has been a major change in the way to obtain news by people now a day. The online news sources are getting as preferred medium for news to consumers. Before people had access to Internet like modern era, they were receiving their information via printed-paper delivered daily to their homes.But this an era of digitization and like everything else, Media has two versions now- Print Media and Online/ Digital Media which works like Print Media, but much faster and immediate. Online Media include electronic, broadcast and Internet media. Today we didn’t need to buy books, newspapers, magazines and newsletters, as they can be found as a digitally published as electronic editions on the Internet. As today’s people prefer faster and latest news update of every moment instead of waiting for the next day’s printed newspaper and read every detail, they are tending more to Online News Media nowadays. A statistic is presented in Fig. 1 showing how much time during an average week do people spend on print content in the U.S. Even in Bangladesh, we see that there are tons of Online News Portals and with smart devices on hand; people are seen reading Online News instead of a printed newspaper. But for hundreds of years, Print Media has been one of the most powerful expression medium of the thoughts of mass people. The industry associated with the printing and distribution of news through portable, disposable and lightweight publi cations printed on paper and circulated as newspapers and magazines is known as Print Media. They hold contents that are informative and entertaining and of general or special interest. Newspapers or magazines are published once or daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly, bimonthly or quarterly. (Curtisu, 2011) In Bangladesh, Print Media has been making the general people learn what is going around them and playing the role of publishing their opinions and views on these topics. Fig. 1. Average time spent on print content in the U.S. in 2011 But Online Media is taking over the Print Media now. As a result there is some people who even believein the near future printed newspapers will be extinct. From Fig. 1 we see that the number of people spending no time at all on print content has increased to a shocking extend. Among the respondents, four percent stated they spent over five hours with magazine or newspaper apps during an average week. (Statista, 2011) So definitely Online Media can be considered as a competitor of Print Media. This research is conducted to find whether Online Media is becoming a threat to the Print Media, whether it will replace Print Media or Print Media will continue ruling. 1.1Rise Of Print Media and Online Media History of Print Media and written communication follows the progress of civilization which moves in response to changing cultural technologies in turn. The biggest change was printing on newsprint and use of the printing press. The earliest examples of printing include Cylinder seals and other objects such as the Cyrus Cylinder and the Nabonidus Cylinders that refer to wedge-shaped inscriptions of King Nabonidus of Babylonia. (Wikipedia, 2002) As long ago as 25,000-30,000 years B.C. first humans painted descriptive pictures on cave walls. The narrative compositions left on the walls of Lascaux represented their own way of communicating with the spiritual world and another. The well-preserved arts and drawing depicted their deep religious beliefs, fears, and also everyday life. The pictures or pictorial types that were found in caves of Southern France and Spain represent the beginning of written communication for the human kind. The advent of a writing system coincided with the tran sition from hunter-gatherer societies to more permanent zeminder or landlord encampments when it became necessary to count ones property. In 1900 B.C. the Chinese invented their very own style of writing independently. Writings preserved on various bones were the earliest records of Chinese Writing found. Their achievement was the building stone for Japanese and Korean to create their own models in 400 B.C. The first alphabetic script appeared in Palestine at about 160 B.C., which influenced early Phoenician (113 B.C.) and Hebrew script (110 B.C.). At first stone and clay tablets were used to express thoughts. Later, in 105 B.C., Tsai Lun of China invented paper as we know it today. (Piechota, 2002) Thus world’s first ever printed media was introduced. Let us now focus on a brief history and growth of the Print Media of our subcontinent. The press, having more than300 years of history, is the oldest mass medium in the Indian subcontinent. James Augustus Hicky, an Englishman and a former employee of the British East India Company, published the first newspaper from Calcutta (West Bengal) in 1780, known as Hicky’s Bengal Gazette or the Calcutta General Advertiser and was a two-sheet English-language-weekly. The first Indian-owned newspaper was the Bengal Gazette, also an English-language weekly published by Gangadhar Bhattacharjee in 1816. By the end of the 19th century, Indians had become restless under British rule and the nationalist movement began to spread throughout the subcontinent. Nationalist political leaders, some of whom were active in journalism, formed the Indian National Congress in 1885 to spearhead the independence struggle. The Anglo-Indian press played an important role in raising hatred between Hindus and M uslims in India who had lived together for centuries through mutual cooperation. In a political about-face, the British government adopted a favorable position towards Muslims and became concerned about their ‘backwardness’. In 1947, the Indian subcontinent was divided into two states- India for Hindus and Pakistan for Muslims-when the British left the region. At the time of independence, East Pakistan had no daily newspaper and most of the newspapers were Bengali language weeklies. Meanwhile, at the time of independence from Britain, India had a strong base of newspapers. After independence from Pakistan in December 1971, the government established in Bangladesh took the ownership of the trust owned newspapers– the Morning News and the Dainik Bangla-in East Pakistan. The Bangladeshi press faced a severe blow to its growth in 1975, when the democratic government with an absolute majority in the Jaitya Sangsad (National Parliament) banned the publication of all ne wspapers except those which were taken over by government. After that, with the advent of democracy in 1990, Bangladesh saw a mushroom growth of newspapers. (Bhuiyan, 2002) Since then, Bangladeshi Print Media has continued its journey. In brief, this was the history of the Print Media in our subcontinent. Now the Print Media has come nearer to the mass people through the help of Electronic Media, i.e., Online Media. Electronic media’s chief advantage is its immediacy. In Online Media, we know news of any occurrence within moments sitting just in an Online News Portal while the Print Media awaits till the next day for publishing a highly important issue occurred on any day. When in a rush, people like to know only the gist of what is happening around and Online Portals play great roles serving this. Mostly the new or younger generations are the main contributors to the decline of the printed version of newspapers. As they were brought up with new technology all the time. This generation was already used to with lots of electronics gadegts; they were the first group targeted for electronic publishing. As we were enterd in a new age which can be called as the age of communicating digitally. With this technology at our fingertips, we can freely express our opinions and â€Å"repor t† on any topic as in the form of blogging. This can be called as the amateur reporting. Some argue that these bloggers i.e. citizen journalists will provide the Internet with more content, more information, more analysis, and a wider range of niches. It has been predicted that this new form of journalism, known as digital journalism, will give rise to a new social model based on a professional-amateur partnership. (Smith, 2014) Today only a wring in the paper, with a photo is no longer acceptable as news. It got transformed into a digital medium and adopted a lot, from the advantages of technology. Now we can also get videos and some more links of the news online. People are interacting through social networks about the news and their views about the news. Handy or portable devices like mobile-tablet pcs are allowing them to acces the news from any where any time. This is allowing us to interact with the news at closer level than ever before.On the other hand, Print Media is still preferred by numerous people of the world despite the immediateness of Online Media. As a reason it can be mention that Print Media holds an edge through its content quality, which a professional editorial staff can produce. For example, Audit Bureau of Circulation figures showed that ‘The New York Times’ boosted overall circulation by 73 percent from Monday through Friday– and 50 percent on Sunday–over March 2011, when it first launched digital subscriptions, according to Politico. (Heibutzki, 2015) In Bangladesh, we also have too many Online News Portals nowadays. While delivering the latest news immediately to people, most of them have not yet been able to replace Print Media. Some Online News Portals also publish spam or unnecessary news links unlike the Print Media which serves the purpose of peoples learning the correct and necessary information properly. Print media is easier to use and read which may be why it has not sunk out of our society completely. But, the read availability, convenience and price of digital media means that it may soon replace print media permanently. So from this point of view we can consider Online Media as an upcoming threat on Print Media though till now the Online Media is certainly a better companion of the Print Media, but not the replacement of it. 1.2Research Question What are the strategis of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star to retain their position in the industry? Does Prothom Alo and The Daily Star feels that they are a threat for online media or the vice versa? What are the prefarable news sources for readers? 1.3Research Objectives To know the challenges with which the Print Media is dealing with. To find the strategy of their survival. 1.4Rationale and Significance of Study A research on the future and strategy of print media in Bangladesh can play an important role in future for this industry. Nowadays this issue is one of the most important topics, not only in Bangladesh, but also as globally because the advancement of technology.A tablet, such as Microsoft Surface, is essentially a larger, version of a smart-phone. The popularityof these kinds of devices is continually growing up, as they are easier to carry and use. As portable device technology advance, so do the news organizations.So this research also tries to find the reasons for people’s spending less time on Print Media. A statistic in United Kingdom shows the reason for reading fewer magazines as of May 2012 (Fig. 2). Of respondents, 11 percent reported reading fewer magazines because the media landscape was too crowded. Cost, time, relevance of issues, advertisements and environment are the factors playing roles in this matter.(Statista, 2012) Fig. 2. Reasons for reading fewer magazines in the United Kingdom (UK) as of May 2012 This research tries to figure out these types of facts from the perspective of Bangladesh. Prothom Alo and The Daily Star both have e-version of their newspapers. This research will find out what is the statistics of their online and printed version readers. Finally it will show the impact of Online Media on Print Media and what are the losses and threats for Print industry and what strategythey are adopting or if there is significant shifts to hold position in the industry. What are the challenges for the authority will also be lightened by this study. References Bhuiyan, A. J. M. S. A. (2002). Mass Media, Communication, and Culture in Bangladesh in the Shadow of a Big Neighbor. Curtisu, D. A. (2011).About Print Media.Retrieved on 20 April, 2015 from the UNCP Website: http://www2.uncp.edu. Heibutzki, R. (2015). What Is the Advantage Disadvantage of Print Electronic Media? Retreived from the Chron Website:http://work.chron.com/. Piechota, I. (2002). Means of human communication though time.Retrieved from: http://myweb.cwpost.liu.edu/paievoli/finals/505Sp 03/Prj1/irene piechota.htm. Smith M. (2014).The Future of News Journalism: The Dying Newsprint Rise of Online Media. Retrieved on 21 April, 2015 from The Modern Ape Website: http://themodernape.com/.Statista (2011).Statistics and market data on Books Publishing.Retrieved from a Stistical Portal, Statista:http://www.statista.com/markets/417/topic/477/books-publishing/.Statista (2012).Reasons for declining magazine readership in the United Kingdom (UK) 2012.Retrieved from Statista:http://www.statista.com/statistics/289356/. Wikipedia (2002).Retrieved from Wikipedia:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/printing.

Tragic Differences :: essays research papers

Tragedy has always been a popular theme in stories and plays. For centuries, people have been captivated by morbidly emotional finales, rather than by happy endings. Stories with a sad outcome fascinate us much more than those, ending on a happy note. Many of the best works of literature are considered to be tragedies. Shakespeare would be a perfect example of a man who had written many delightful comedies; yet, he was more famous for his grave tragedies. People seem to be more attached to something that disturbs them and leaves them uneasy, rather than to something frivolous and amusing. Maybe, it is because tragedies can be very didactic. Maybe, by studying typical causes of tragedy, a person can prevent it from happening in his or her personal life. It is much easier to learn something from someone else's mistakes than from your own. So it is possible that people who really enjoy tragedy do not really enjoy it, but use it to prevent their future misfortunes, if there are any. Othe rwise, how can someone enjoy the pain and the suffering of others? But like everything else tragedy has laws. One of the laws is Hubris. A Rose for Emily, by William Faulkner, can easily be classified as a tragedy. It is a repulsive story about a woman, who died just as she lived: lonely. Emily Grierson was a peculiar woman, who owned a large house, which was a mystery to many people. She never had any real friends and she never had a spouse. And when she started seeing a man, Homer Barron, everybody was assured that she would marry him. But Mr. Barron was as queer as Ms. Grierson was, so their melding was very unlikely. 'When she had first begun to be seen with Homer Barron, we had said, 'She will marry him.'; Then we said, 'She will persuaded him yet,'; because homer himself had remarked – he liked men, and it was known that he drank with the younger men in the Elk's Club – that he was not a marrying man.'; (Faulkner 280) Poor woman probably never even had the chance. But shortly after the two had been acquainted, Homer disappeared, and the woman became even more alienated, until she stopped coming out o f her dusky house at all. At the end of the story, we are told that the disintegrating carcass of Mr. Barron was found in Emily's house in the room that had been locked for years. Tragic Differences :: essays research papers Tragedy has always been a popular theme in stories and plays. For centuries, people have been captivated by morbidly emotional finales, rather than by happy endings. Stories with a sad outcome fascinate us much more than those, ending on a happy note. Many of the best works of literature are considered to be tragedies. Shakespeare would be a perfect example of a man who had written many delightful comedies; yet, he was more famous for his grave tragedies. People seem to be more attached to something that disturbs them and leaves them uneasy, rather than to something frivolous and amusing. Maybe, it is because tragedies can be very didactic. Maybe, by studying typical causes of tragedy, a person can prevent it from happening in his or her personal life. It is much easier to learn something from someone else's mistakes than from your own. So it is possible that people who really enjoy tragedy do not really enjoy it, but use it to prevent their future misfortunes, if there are any. Othe rwise, how can someone enjoy the pain and the suffering of others? But like everything else tragedy has laws. One of the laws is Hubris. A Rose for Emily, by William Faulkner, can easily be classified as a tragedy. It is a repulsive story about a woman, who died just as she lived: lonely. Emily Grierson was a peculiar woman, who owned a large house, which was a mystery to many people. She never had any real friends and she never had a spouse. And when she started seeing a man, Homer Barron, everybody was assured that she would marry him. But Mr. Barron was as queer as Ms. Grierson was, so their melding was very unlikely. 'When she had first begun to be seen with Homer Barron, we had said, 'She will marry him.'; Then we said, 'She will persuaded him yet,'; because homer himself had remarked – he liked men, and it was known that he drank with the younger men in the Elk's Club – that he was not a marrying man.'; (Faulkner 280) Poor woman probably never even had the chance. But shortly after the two had been acquainted, Homer disappeared, and the woman became even more alienated, until she stopped coming out o f her dusky house at all. At the end of the story, we are told that the disintegrating carcass of Mr. Barron was found in Emily's house in the room that had been locked for years.

Narrative Essay Writing

Life to some people is a long learning lesson and process. Everyday is a learning experience and a novel opportunity to expand our knowledge and information bank, we stock piles our minds with both vital and non crucial information, hoping to utilize it as time goes by. This is a philosophy that reluctantly I have come to ascribe to. Looking back at my life, no matter how short it has been, reveals a rather extensive period of learning. I am a 23 years old girl, born in Korea and just immigrated to the U.S.A two years ago in a bid to better my life and pursue my dream career. Growing back in the suburbs of Seoul from my childhood days, through to my adulthood, is itself a thrilling experience. Although lacking in some luxuries and carefree attitude available in many American cities, I cherish the sweet memories of the good times I have gone through in Korea. I was born and brought up by my two staunch parents, who partook their parenting duties with the strictness and seriousness it deserves. To them, bringing out the best in me, as their only child, was their sole calling. No resource would be spared in ensuring that their only daughter got the best that life could offer and emerge triumphantly. Whether or not I have come out successfully is another story altogether. Many will agree with me that their childhood days though full of bliss and joyous moments, was not always a bed of roses, especially if you had an uncompromising mother or a nanny watching behind your back in every move you made. I came to agree that they meant well but our naivety and simple minds could not fathom the reason why we could not be allowed to do what we wanted. I take a look at my life and appreciate that I have come from far. Importantly though, is that the best that I am today, I owe it to my adorable parents. It is said that, cleanliness is second to godliness-that I have come to see is true. I have received compliments and encouraging words regarding how organized and neat I am, from my teachers, friends and even strangers. Many however do not know that this has not always been the case, as my parents can attest. My young urchin life is a complete opposite of the tidiness and smartness I exhibit today. I grew up in a neighborhood inhabited by diverse people and hence diverse characters. My immediate neighbors were two boys whose sweet memories I still cherish, however, the care-free attitude they had instilled in me than is a trait I would not have wanted to acquire. It is a known fact that kids can be extremely naughty especially in the wrong environment. My mother had always been trying to emphasize the importance of neatness especially in girls, trying to buy me bright colored dresses to ensure that I looked my best. I could not hear anything of it and was always in crumpled clothing and uncombed hair. By the age of 12, my mother had given up. Not even my father’s smart and stern look could change me. I used to be extremely untidy both at home and in school. My homework was not being delivered in time and when delivered it was just a bunch of illegible scribbling. My parents had a perfectionist attitude towards life, but that too could not change me. Every road has a turning point and every night a daybreak. My annoying habits too had to come to an end. This came at the night of my 15th birthday. Since the tender age of three years, it had been a tradition in our house to hold my birthday party where I would invite my friends for a day full of celebrations. I had wished to see a different thing happen this 15th birthday. At my age, it was considered trendy to hold a birthday party at night and let your friends enjoy an orgy till day break. I conferred with my parents and they had no problem with that. However, it was on a condition that our house nanny would not play a role in tidying up the house before or after the party. I had to somehow find a way of cleaning the place. How I tidied up my room is a story for another day but I did it altogether, and the results were quite impressive. My friends had always thought of me as a disorganized person with no cleanliness ambitions; it amazed them that I could be that tidy. My parents were quite impressed and I could see a sense of renewed affection in them. I was hoping to maintain this and made it may birthday resolution; since then I have never looked back. I can tell when my parents are relieved and happy. After my tidying up I could tell they had renewed their hope in me. Their next concern was to be in academics where I had been recording a dismal performance over a long time, a performance that had emanated from the fact that I disliked studies. I found the idea of devoting my precious time in abstracts a laborious task. This had to change somehow. My dad is not only smart in terms of dressing, but it also very knowledgeable. This was a trait he had all along wished to instill in me. He started by buying me short story books to try and arouse more interest in me. This is what eventually would see me develop an unquenchable interest in reading and digging for knowledge in topics ranging from almost every aspect of life. I have come to like reading both fictional and scholarly materials especially those authored by famous people. It is in reading widely that one gets to know more about the world. I have come to appreciate the role my parents have played in my life. They have taught me the essence of grooming well and proper self-organization as a key ingredient to succeed in life. My academic life has improved greatly as a result of the important tips accorded to me by father. Now it is to my discretion to either squander the useful information and experience I have gathered in life or see it go to waste altogether. Reference: James L. Kinneavy and John E. Wcoriner, 1998. Elements of Writing. Orlando. Florida. Harcourt   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Brace and Company

Book Reporter of Swim the Fly Essay

Their plan failed because Matt almost got recognized by Kelly in the girl’s changing room. However, Kelly and her best friends Valerie started to pay attention to Matt because his brave move of volunteering in the 100-m butterfly (or his appearance in the girl’s changing room? ). Ms. Luntz (their swimming couch) put Matt, a poor guy who can’t even manage a single lap, in the butterfly medley relay without even asking Matt. Sean and Coop came up with an idea to pretend having a stomachache in order to avoid the embarrassment. Matt’s grandpa sent a kitten to Mrs. Hoogenboom in order to get her attention which turned out Mrs. Hoogenboom almost found out he is the one who tried to suffocate the cat. Relate: T-S connection: I also have friends like Sean and Coop in my life that can not only have fun with but also share sadness with. T-T connection: Matt volunteered for the 100-m butterfly stroke championships so Ms. Luntz figured he wouldn’t mind doing another butterfly medley relay. However, Matt couldn’t even do one stroke and weren’t capable of swimming the fly. T-W connection: I saw a movie called American Pie which described similar situation in this book, a few guys fall in love with the hottest girls in their school and manage to date them out. Reflect: There are always some friends in your life who always make fun of you yet you never get angry with them. It is normal in the western culture for an old man to impress a widow who has just lost her husband? It is kind of unacceptable for me. This part of the book is the rising action because they hadn’t achieved their goal yet. The narrator is 1st person which is Matt himself. How does Matt’s grandpa’s relationship with Mrs. Hoogenboom relate to the story? Why did the author even mention it? Always be prepared, so when the opportunity comes you will be the one grabs it. ( If Matt can do butterfly stoke well enough, he will be able to join not only the medley relay but also the championships in order to impress the girl he likes. )

Desistance

Criminology & Criminal Justice  © 2006 SAGE Publications (London, Thousand Oaks & New Delhi) and the British Society of Criminology. www. sagepublications. com ISSN 1748–8958; Vol: 6(1): 39–62 DOI: 10. 1177/1748895806060666 A desistance paradigm for offender management FERGUS McNEILL Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde, UK Abstract In an in? uential article published in the British Journal of Social Work in 1979, Anthony Bottoms and Bill McWilliams proposed the adoption of a ‘non-treatment paradigm’ for probation practice.Their argument rested on a careful and considered analysis not only of empirical evidence about the ineffectiveness of rehabilitative treatment but also of theoretical, moral and philosophical questions about such interventions. By 1994, emerging evidence about the potential effectiveness of some intervention programmes was suf? cient to lead Peter Raynor and Maurice Vanstone to suggest signi? cant revisions to the ‘non-treatme nt paradigm’.In this article, it is argued that a different but equally relevant form of empirical evidence—that derived from desistance studies—suggests a need to re-evaluate these earlier paradigms for probation practice. This reevaluation is also required by the way that such studies enable us to understand and theorize both desistance itself and the role that penal professionals might play in supporting it.Ultimately, these empirical and theoretical insights drive us back to the complex interfaces between technical and moral questions that preoccupied Bottoms and McWilliams and that should feature more prominently in contemporary debates about the futures of ‘offender management’ and of our penal systems. Key Words desistance †¢ effectiveness †¢ ethics †¢ offender management †¢ nontreatment paradigm †¢ probation 39 40 Criminology & Criminal Justice 6(1) IntroductionCritical analysts of the history of ideas in the probati on service have charted the various reconstructions of probation practice that have accompanied changes in penal theories, policies and sensibilities. Most famously, McWilliams (1983, 1985, 1986, 1987) described the transformations of probation from a missionary endeavour that aimed to save souls, to a professionalized endeavour that aimed to ‘cure’ offending through rehabilitative treatment, to a pragmatic endeavour that aimed to provide alternatives to custody and practical help for offenders (see also Vanstone, 2004).More recent commentators have suggested later transformations of probation practice related ? rst to its recasting, in England and Wales, as ‘punishment in the community’ and then to its increasing focus on risk management and public protection (Robinson and McNeill, 2004). In each of these eras of probation history, practitioners, academics and other commentators have sought to articulate new paradigms for probation practice. Though much of the debate about the merits of these paradigms has focused on empirical questions about the ef? acy of different approaches to the treatment and management of offenders, probation paradigms also re? ect, implicitly or explicitly, developments both in the philosophy and in the sociology of punishment. The origins of this article are similar in that the initial impetus for the development of a desistance paradigm for ‘offender management’1 emerged from reviews of desistance research (McNeill, 2003) and, more speci? cally, from the ? ndings of some particularly important recent studies (Burnett, 1992; Rex, 1999; Maruna, 2001; Farrall, 2002).However, closer examination of some aspects of the desistance research also suggests a normative case for a new paradigm; indeed, some of the empirical evidence seems to make a necessity out of certain ‘practice virtues’. That these virtues are arguably in decline as a result of the fore-fronting of risk and public protect ion in contemporary criminal justice serves to make the development of the case for a desistance paradigm both timely and necessary. To that end, the structure of this article is as follows.It begins with summaries of two important paradigms for probation practice—the ‘nontreatment paradigm’ (Bottoms and McWilliams, 1979) and the ‘revised paradigm’ (Raynor and Vanstone, 1994). The article then proceeds with an analysis of the emerging theoretical and empirical case for a desistance paradigm. This section draws not only on the ? ndings of desistance studies but also on recent studies of the effectiveness of different approaches to securing ‘personal change’ in general and on recent developments in the ‘what works’ literature in particular.The ethical case for a desistance paradigm is then advanced not only in the light of the empirical evidence about the practical necessity of certain modes of ethical practice, but also in th e light of developments in the philosophy of punishment, most notably the ideas associated with the work of the ‘new rehabilitationists’ (Lewis, 2005) and with Anthony Duff’s ‘penal communications’ theory (Duff, McNeill—A desistance paradigm for offender management 2001, 2003).In the concluding discussion, I try to sketch out some of the parameters of a desistance paradigm, though this is intended more as an attempt to stimulate debate about its development rather than to de? ne categorically its features. 41 Changing paradigms for probation practice Writing at the end of the 1970s, Bottoms and McWilliams declared the need for a new paradigm for probation practice, a paradigm that ‘is theoretically rigorous, which takes very seriously the limitations of the treatment model; but which seeks to redirect the probation service’s traditional aims and values in the new penal and social context’ (1979: 167).Bottoms and McWilliams proposed their paradigm against the backdrop of a prevailing view that treatment had been discredited both empirically and ethically. Though they did not review the empirical case in any great detail, they refer to several studies (Lipton et al. , 1975; Brody, 1976; Greenberg, 1976) as establishing the broad conclusion that ‘dramatic reformative results are hard to discover and are usually absent’ (Bottoms and McWilliams, 1979: 160). They also stressed the theoretical inadequacies of the treatment model, noting several ? aws in the analogy between probation interventions and medical treatment; ? st, crime is voluntary whereas most diseases are not; second, crime is not pathological in any straightforward sense; and third, individual treatment models neglect the social causes of crime. Worse still, neglect of these ? aws produced ethical problems; they argued that over-con? dence in the prospects for effecting change through treatment had permitted its advocates both to coerce offenders into interventions (because the treatment provider was an expert who knew best) and to ignore offenders’ views of their own situations (because offenders were victims of their own lack of insight).Perhaps most insidiously of all, within this ideology coerced treatment could be justi? ed in offenders’ own best interests. Bottoms and McWilliams also discerned an important ‘implicit con? ict between the determinism implied in diagnosis and treatment and the frequently stressed casework principle of client selfdetermination’ (1979: 166). How can offenders be simultaneously the objects on whom psychological, physical and social forces operate (as the term diagnosis implies) and the authors of their own futures (as the principle of self-determination requires)?Bottoms and McWilliams’ hope was that by exposing the weaknesses of the treatment paradigm, they would allow for a renaissance of the probation service’s traditional core val ues of hope and respect for persons. They suggested that the four primary aims of the service ‘are and have been: 1 2 3 4 The provision of appropriate help for offenders The statutory supervision of offenders Diverting appropriate offenders from custodial sentences The reduction of crime’ (1979: 168). 42 Criminology & Criminal Justice 6(1) It is their discussion of the ? rst and second of these objectives that is most relevant to the discussion here.However, it is worth noting ? rst that, for Bottoms and McWilliams, the problem with the treatment model was that it assumed that the fourth objective must be achieved through the pursuit of the ? rst three; an assumption that they suggested could not be sustained empirically. 2 With regard to the provision of help as opposed to treatment, Bottoms and McWilliams rejected the ‘objecti? cation’ of offenders implied in the ‘casework relationship’, wherein the offender becomes an object to be treated, c ured or managed in and through social policy and professional practice. One consequence of this objecti? ation, they suggested, is that the formulation of treatment plans rests with the expert; the approach is essentially ‘of? cer-centred’. Bottoms and McWilliams (1979: 173) suggested, by way of contrast, that in the non-treatment paradigm: (a) Treatment (b) Diagnosis (c) Client’s Dependent Need as the basis for social work action becomes becomes becomes Help Shared Assessment Collaboratively De? ned Task as the basis for social work action In this formulation, ‘help’ includes but is not limited to material help; probation may continue to address emotional or psychological dif? ulties, but this is no longer its raison d’etre. Critically, the test of any proposed intervention technique is that it must help the client. Bottoms and McWilliams (1979: 174) explicitly disavowed any claim that the help model would be bene? cial in the reduction of cr ime. 3 Having reconceived of probation practice as help rather than treatment, Bottoms and McWilliams’ discussion of probation’s second aim, the statutory supervision of offenders, explored the implicit tensions between help and surveillance.Accepting that probation of? cers are ‘law enforcement’ agents as well as helpers, they drew on an article by Raynor (1978) that argued for a crucial distinction between coercion and constraint; ‘choice under constraint is morally acceptable; manipulative coercion is not’ (Bottoms and McWilliams, 1979: 177). Following Raynor, they suggested that making this distinction meaningful required probation of? cers actively to seek, within the constraints of the probation order, to maximize the area of choice for the offender.Their paradigm therefore invoked a distinction between the compulsory requirements imposed by the court (with the offender’s constrained consent) and the substantive content of the hel ping process. In the latter connection, the ‘client’ should be free to choose to accept or reject help without fear of further sanctions. Put another way, the authority for supervision derives from the court but the authority for help resides in the offender. For Bottoms and McWilliams this required that the (then) legal requirement of consent by defendants to probation and community ervice should be taken much more seriously; indeed, they suggested that so as to avoid compulsory help McNeill—A desistance paradigm for offender management arising from a probation recommendation, defendants’ consent to such recommendations should be required. Where consent was absent, no such recommendation should be made. Fifteen years later, Peter Raynor and Maurice Vanstone (1994) argued that the non-treatment paradigm—a paradigm that they clearly regarded as being well worthy of the in? uence that it had exercised in the intervening years—was none the less in need of revision.The resurgence of optimism about the potential effectiveness of some forms of ‘treatment’ led Raynor and Vanstone to argue that the foundations of the non-treatment paradigm, ‘built as they were out of a mixture of doubt and scepticism about the crime-reducing potential of rehabilitation, have produced cracks in the structure’ (1994: 396): By uncoupling ‘helping offenders’ from ‘crime reduction’, the paradigm is prevented from exploring whether work with individuals on their thinking, behaviour and attitudes has any relevance to crime reduction. Current knowledge of research into effectiveness necessitates, therefore, a rede? ing of the concept of appropriate help in a way that retains the principle of collaboration, and the stress on client needs, but which incorporates informed practice focused on in? uencing and helping individuals to stop offending . . . This should not detract from the need to address the s ocial and economic context of crime. (Raynor and Vanstone, 1994: 398) 43 It is clear that Raynor and Vanstone (1994) were not advocating a return to a treatment paradigm; rather, in their discussion of intervention ‘programmes’, they explicitly rejected Bottoms and McWilliams’ dichotomization of treatment and help.More speci? cally, Raynor and Vanstone questioned the assumption that critiques of psychodynamic approaches as ‘involving disguised coercion, denial of clients’ views, the objecti? cation of people, and a demonstrable lack of effectiveness when applied to offenders’ (1994: 399) could be equally applied to all forms of treatment. This false assumption, they argued, led Bottoms and McWilliams to ‘ignore other possible bases for intervention outside the â€Å"medical model† and encouraged the reader to identify all attempts to in? uence offenders as ethically objectionable treatment’ (Raynor and Vanstone, 1994: 400). A further crucial problem with the ‘non-treatment paradigm’ rested in its neglect of victims. The arguments of left realist criminologists (Young, 1988) persuaded Raynor and Vanstone (1994) that the traditional probation value of ‘respect for persons’ had to include the actual and potential victims of crime. This in turn implied that the extent to which client (that is, offender) choice could be respected and unconditional help could be offered had some necessary limitations; essentially, probation had to accept an obligation to work to reduce the harms caused by crime, as well as the ills that provoke it.Thus: Compensatory help and empowerment of offenders are a proper response to situations where individuals have had few opportunities to avoid crime, but 44 Criminology & Criminal Justice 6(1) their purpose is not simply to widen offenders’ choices: it includes doing so in a manner consistent with a wider goal of crime reduction. Such a goal is not simply in the interests of the powerful: although criminal justice in an unequal society re? ects and is distorted by its inequalities, the least powerful suffer some of the most common kinds of crime and are most in need of protection from it. This includes, of course, many offenders who are themselves victims of crime . . . ) (Raynor and Vanstone, 1994: 401) Raynor and Vanstone (1994: 402) concluded by adapting Bottoms and McWilliams’ (1979) schematic summary of their paradigm: (a) Help becomes Help consistent with a commitment to the reduction of harm Explicit dialogue and negotiation offering opportunities for informed consent to involvement in a process of change Collaboratively de? ned task relevant to criminogenic needs, and potentially effective in meeting them b) Shared assessment becomes (c) Collaboratively de? ned task becomes In terms of both organizational change and practice development, the 10 years that followed the publication of Raynor and Vanstone’s (1994) article have been even more tumultuous than the years between the publication of the non-treatment paradigm and its revision. It is beyond the scope of this article to give an account of these changes (see Nellis, 1999; Raynor and Vanstone, 2002; Mair, 2004; Robinson and McNeill, 2004).Indeed, since the purpose of this article is to consider how the practice of offender management should be reconstructed in the light of the desistance research, there is some merit in ignoring how it has been reconstructed for more political and pragmatic reasons. That said, two particular developments require comment. The ? rst relates to changes in formulations of the purposes of probation since the publication of the earlier paradigms.Without entering into the ongoing debates about the recasting of probation’s purposes south of the border (see Robinson and McNeill, 2004; Worrall and Hoy, 2005), it is suf? cient to state that, in contrast to the four aims outlined by Bottoms and McWil liams—aims which were still uncontested by Raynor and Vanstone in 1994—the new National Offender Management Service, incorporating prisons and probation, exists to manage offenders and in so doing to provide a service to the ‘law-abiding’ public. Its objectives are to punish offenders and to reduce re-offending (Blunkett, 2004: 10).The second development concerns the application of a particular approach to developing effective probation practice in England and Wales in McNeill—A desistance paradigm for offender management the form of the ‘what works’ initiative (McNeill, 2001, 2004a). In effect, this initiative involves the imposition from the centre of an implicit ‘what works’ paradigm for probation practice. Once again the debates about the characteristics, implications and ? aws of this paradigm are complex (see Mair, 2004). Perhaps he easiest way to summarize the paradigm however, is to suggest a further revision to Ray nor and Vanstone’s (1994) adaptation of Bottoms and McWilliams’ (1979) schematic summary: (a) Help consistent with a commitment to the reduction of harm (b) Explicit dialogue and negotiation offering opportunities for informed consent to involvement in a process of change (c) Collaboratively de? ned task relevant to criminogenic needs, and potentially effective in meeting them becomes Intervention required to reduce reoffending and protect the public Professional assessment of risk and need governed by the application of structured assessment instruments 5 becomes becomes Compulsory engagement in structured programmes and case management processes to address criminogenic needs – as required elements of legal orders imposed irrespective of consent Theoretical and empirical arguments for a desistance paradigm4 A fundamental but perhaps inevitable problem with the non-treatment paradigm, the revised paradigm and the ‘what works’ paradigm is that they b egin in the wrong place; that is, they begin by thinking about how practice (whether ‘treatment’, ‘help’ or ‘programmes’) should be constructed without ? rst thinking about how change should be understood.For Bottoms and McWilliams (1979) this omission makes some sense, since their premise was that the prospects for practice securing individual change were bleak. However, for Raynor and Vanstone (1994) and for the prevailing ‘what works’ paradigm, the problem is more serious; given their reasonable optimism about the prospects for individual rehabilitation, the absence of a well-developed theory of how rehabilitation occurs is more problematic. 5 Understanding desistance The change process involved in the rehabilitation of offenders is desistance from offending.The muted impact that desistance research has had on policy and practice hitherto is both surprising and problematic because 46 Criminology & Criminal Justice 6(1) knowledge about processes of desistance is clearly critical to our understandings of how and why ex-offenders come to change their behaviours. Indeed, building an understanding of the human processes and social contexts in and through which desistance occurs is a necessary precursor to developing practice paradigms; put another way, constructions of practice should be embedded in understandings of desistance.The implications of such embedding are signi? cant and far-reaching. Maruna et al. (2004) draw a parallel with a related shift in the ? eld of addictions away from the notion of treatment and towards the idea of recovery, quoting an in? uential essay by William White (2000): Treatment was birthed as an adjunct to recovery, but, as treatment grew in size and status, it de? ned recovery as an adjunct of itself. The original perspective needs to be recaptured. Treatment institutions need to once again become servants of the larger recovery process and the community in which that recovery is nested and sustained . . (White, 2000, cited in Maruna et al. , 2004: 9) Although the language of recovery may be inappropriate in relation to offenders, given both that it implies a medical model and that it suggests a prior state of well-being that may never have existed for many, the analogy is telling none the less. Put simply, the implication is that offender management services need to think of themselves less as providers of correctional treatment (that belongs to the expert) and more as supporters of desistance processes (that belong to the desister).In some respects, this shift in perspective, by re-emphasizing the offender’s viewpoint, might re-invigorate the non-treatment paradigm’s rejection of the objecti? cation of the ‘client’ and of the elevation of the ‘therapist’. However, it does so not by rejecting ‘treatment’ per se, but by seeing professional intervention as being, in some sense, subservient to a wider proce ss that belongs to the desister. Before proceeding further, more needs to be said about how processes of desistance should be understood and theorized.Maruna (2001) identi? es three broad theoretical perspectives in the desistance literature: maturational reform, social bonds theory and narrative theory. Maturational reform (or ‘ontogenic’) theories have the longest history and are based on the established links between age and certain criminal behaviours, particularly street crime. Social bonds (or ‘sociogenic’) theories suggest that ties to family, employment or educational programmes in early adulthood explain changes in criminal behaviour across the life course.Where these ties exist, they create a stake in conformity, a reason to ‘go straight’. Where they are absent, people who offend have less to lose from continuing to offend. Narrative theories have emerged from more qualitative research which stresses the signi? cance of subjective cha nges in the person’s sense of self and identity, re? ected in changing motivations, greater concern for others and more consideration of the future. Bringing these perspectives together, Farrall stresses the signi? cance of theMcNeill—A desistance paradigm for offender management relationships between ‘objective’ changes in the offender’s life and his or her ‘subjective’ assessment of the value or signi? cance of these changes: . . . the desistance literature has pointed to a range of factors associated with the ending of active involvement in offending. Most of these factors are related to acquiring ‘something’ (most commonly employment, a life partner or a family) which the desister values in some way and which initiates a reevaluation of his or her own life . . (Farrall, 2002: 11) 47 Thus, desistance resides somewhere in the interfaces between developing personal maturity, changing social bonds associated with certain li fe transitions, and the individual subjective narrative constructions which offenders build around these key events and changes. It is not just the events and changes that matter; it is what these events and changes mean to the people involved. Clearly this understanding implies that desistance itself is not an event (like being cured of a disease) but a process.Desistance is necessarily about ceasing offending and then refraining from further offending over an extended period (for more detailed discussions see Maruna, 2001; Farrall, 2002; Maruna and Farrall, 2004). Maruna and Farrall (2004) suggest that it is helpful to distinguish primary desistance (the achievement of an offence-free period) from secondary desistance (an underlying change in self-identity wherein the ex-offender labels him or herself as such). Although Bottoms et al. 2004) have raised some doubts about the value of this distinction on the grounds that it may exaggerate the importance of cognitive changes which ne ed not always accompany desistance, it does seem likely that where offender managers are dealing with (formerly) persistent offenders, the distinction may be useful; indeed, in those kinds of cases their role might be constructed as prompting, supporting and sustaining secondary desistance wherever this is possible.Moreover, further empirical support for the notion of secondary desistance (and its usefulness) might be found in Burnett’s (1992) study of efforts to desist among 130 adult property offenders released from custody. Burnett noted that while eight out of ten, when interviewed pre-release, wanted to ‘go straight’; six out of ten subsequently reported re-offending post-release. For many, the intention to be law-abiding was provisional in the sense that it did not represent a con? dent prediction; only one in four reported that they would de? itely be able to desist. Importantly, Burnett discovered that those who were most con? dent and optimistic about de sisting had greatest success in doing so. For the others, the ‘provisional nature of intentions re? ected social dif? culties and personal problems that the men faced’ (Burnett, 2000: 14). That this implies the need for intentions to desist to be grounded in changes of identity is perhaps supported by Burnett’s ? ndings about different types of desisters. She discerned three 48Criminology & Criminal Justice 6(1) categories: ‘non-starters’ who adamantly denied that they were ‘real criminals’ and, in fact, had fewer previous convictions than the others; ‘avoiders’, for whom keeping out of prison was the key issue; and ‘converts’ who appeared to have decided that the costs of crime outweighed the bene? ts. Indeed, the converts were: the most resolute and certain among the desisters. They had found new interests that were all-preoccupying and overturned their value system: a partner, a child, a good job, a new vocat ion.These were attainments that they were not prepared to jeopardize or which over-rode any interest in or need for property crime. (Burnett, 2000: 14) Although Burnett notes that, for most of the men involved in her study, processes of desistance were characterized by ambivalence and vacillation, the over-turning of value systems and all pre-occupying new interests that characterized the ‘converts’ seem to imply the kind of identity changes invoked in the notion of secondary desistance.Maruna’s (2001) study offers a particularly important contribution to understanding secondary desistance by exploring the subjective dimensions of change. Maruna compared the narrative ‘scripts’ of 20 persisters and 30 desisters who shared similar criminogenic traits and backgrounds and who lived in similarly criminogenic environments. In the ‘condemnation script’ that emerged from the persisters, ‘The condemned person is the narrator (although he o r she reserves plenty of blame for society as well). Active offenders . . . argely saw their life scripts as having been written for them a long time ago’ (Maruna, 2001: 75). By contrast, the accounts of the desisters revealed a different narrative: The redemption script begins by establishing the goodness and conventionality of the narrator—a victim of society who gets involved with crime and drugs to achieve some sort of power over otherwise bleak circumstances. This deviance eventually becomes its own trap, however, as the narrator becomes ensnared in the vicious cycle of crime and imprisonment.Yet, with the help of some outside force, someone who ‘believed in’ the ex-offender, the narrator is able to accomplish what he or she was ‘always meant to do’. Newly empowered, he or she now seeks to ‘give something back’ to society as a display of gratitude. (Maruna, 2001: 87) The desisters and the persisters shared the same sense of f atalism in their accounts of the development of their criminal careers; however, Maruna reads the minimization of responsibility implied by this fatalism as evidence of the conventionality of their values and aspirations and of their need to believe in the essential goodness of the ‘real me’.Moreover, in their accounts of achieving change there is evidence that desisters have to ‘discover’ agency in order to resist and overcome the criminogenic structural pressures that play upon them. This discovery of agency seems to McNeill—A desistance paradigm for offender management relate to the role of signi? cant others in envisioning an alternative identity and an alternative future for the offender even through periods when they cannot see these possibilities for themselves.Typically later in the process of change, involvement in ‘generative activities’ (which usually make a contribution to the well-being of others) plays a part in testifying to the desister that an alternative ‘agentic’ identity is being or has been forged. Intriguingly, the process of discovering agency, on one level at least, sheds interesting light on the apparent theoretical inconsistency that Bottoms and McWilliams (1979) inferred from the treatment paradigm; that is, an inconsistency between its deterministic analysis of the causes of criminality and its focus on self-determination in the treatment process.Arguably what Maruna (2001) has revealed is the role of re? exivity in both revealing and producing shifts in the dynamic relationships between agency and structure (see also Farrall and Bowling, 1999). Supporting desistance The implications for practice of this developing evidence base have begun to be explored in a small number of research studies that have focused on the role that probation may play in supporting desistance (for example Rex, 1999; Farrall, 2002; McCulloch, 2005). In one study of ‘assisted desistance’ , Rex (1999) explored the experiences of 60 probationers.She found that those who attributed changes in their behaviour to probation supervision described it as active and participatory. Probationers’ commitments to desist appeared to be generated by the personal and professional commitment shown by their probation of? cers, whose reasonableness, fairness and encouragement seemed to engender a sense of personal loyalty and accountability. Probationers interpreted advice about their behaviours and underlying problems as evidence of concern for them as people, and ‘were motivated by what they saw as a display of interest in their wellbeing’ (Rex, 1999: 375).Such evidence resonates with other arguments about the pivotal role that relationships play in effective interventions (Barry, 2000; Burnett, 2004; Burnett and McNeill, 2005; McNeill et al. , 2005). If secondary desistance (for those involved in persistent offending at least) requires a narrative reconstruction of identity, then it seems obvious why the relational aspects of practice are so signi? cant. Who would risk engaging in such a precarious and threatening venture without the reassurance of sustained and compassionate support from a trusted source?However, workers and working relationships are neither the only nor the most important resources in promoting desistance. Related studies of young people in trouble suggest that their own resources and social networks are often better at resolving their dif? culties than professional staff (Hill, 1999). The potential of social networks is highlighted by ‘resilience perspectives’, which, in contrast with approaches that dwell on risks and/or needs, consider the ‘protective factors and processes’ involved in positive adaptation in spite of adversity.In terms of practice with young 49 50 Criminology & Criminal Justice 6(1) people, such perspectives entail an emphasis on the recognition, exploitation and development o f their competences, resources, skills and assets (Schoon and Bynner, 2003). In similar vein, but in relation to re-entry of ex-prisoners to society, Maruna and LeBel (2003) have made a convincing case for the development of strengths-based (rather than needs-based or risk-based) narratives and approaches.Drawing on both psychological and criminological evidence, they argue that such approaches would be likely both to enhance compliance with parole conditions and to encourage exprisoners to achieve ‘earned redemption’ (Bazemore, 1999) by focusing on the positive contributions through which they might make good to their communities. Thus promoting desistance also means striving to develop the offender’s strengths—at both an individual and a social network level—in order to build and sustain the momentum for change.In looking towards these personal and social contexts of desistance, the most recent and perhaps most wide-scale study of probation and de sistance is particularly pertinent to the development of a desistance paradigm. Farrall (2002) explored the progress or lack of progress towards desistance achieved by a group of 199 probationers. Though over half of the sample evidenced progress towards desistance, Farrall found that desistance could be attributed to speci? c interventions by the probation of? cer in only a few cases, although help with ? ding work and mending damaged family relationships appeared particularly important. Desistance seemed to relate more clearly to the probationers’ motivations and to the social and personal contexts in which various obstacles to desistance were addressed. Farrall (2002) goes on to argue that interventions must pay greater heed to the community, social and personal contexts in which they are situated (see also McCulloch, 2005). After all, ‘social circumstances and relationships with others are both the object of the intervention and the medium through which . . . change can be achieved’ (Farrall, 2002: 212, emphases added).Necessarily, this requires that interventions be focused not solely on the individual person and his or her perceived ‘de? cits’. As Farrall (2002) notes, the problem with such interventions is that while they can build human capital, for example, in terms of enhanced cognitive skills or improved employability, they cannot generate the social capital that resides in the relationships through which we achieve participation and inclusion in society. 6 Vitally, it is social capital that is necessary to encourage desistance. It is not enough to build capacities for change where change depends on opportunities to exercise capacities: ‘. . the process of desistance is one that is produced through an interplay between individual choices, and a range of wider social forces, institutional and societal practices which are beyond the control of the individual’ (Farrall and Bowling, 1999: 261). Barry’ s (2004) recent study provides another key reference point for exploring how themes of capital, agency, identity and transition play out speci? cally for younger people desisting from offending. Through in-depth interviews with 20 young women and 20 young men, Barry explored why they started and stopped offending and what in? enced or inhibited them McNeill—A desistance paradigm for offender management in that behaviour as they grew older. The young people revealed that their decisions about offending and desisting were related to their need to feel included in their social world, through friendships in childhood and through wider commitments in adulthood. The resolve displayed by the young people in desisting from offending seemed remarkable to Barry, particularly given that they were from disadvantaged backgrounds and were limited in their access to mainstream pportunities (employment, housing and social status) both because of their age and because of their social class. B arry recognizes crucially that: Because of their transitional situation, many young people lack the status and opportunities of full citizens and thus have limited capacity for social recognition in terms of durable and legitimate means of both accumulating and expending capital through taking on responsibility and generativity . . .Accumulation of capital requires, to a certain extent, both responsibilities and access to opportunities; however, children and young people rarely have such opportunities because of their status as ‘liminal entities’ (Turner, 1969), not least those from a working class background. (2004: 328–9) 51 It is interesting to note that similar messages about the signi? cance both of the relational and of the social contexts of desistance have emerged recently from ‘treatment’ research itself.Ten years on from McGuire and Priestley’s (1995) original statement of ‘what works’, these neglected aspects of practic e have re-emerged in revisions to and re? nements of the principles of effective practice. One authoritative recent review, for example, highlights the increasing attention that is being paid to the need for staff to use interpersonal skills, to exercise some discretion in their interventions, to take diversity among participants into account and to look at how the broader service context can best support effective practice (Raynor, 2004: 201).Raynor notes that neglect of these factors may account for some of the dif? culties experienced in England and Wales, for example, in translating the successes of demonstration projects to general practice. He suggests that the preoccupation with group programmes arises from their more standardized application, which, in turn, allows for more systematic evaluation than the complex and varied nature of individual practice. However, this pre-occupation (with programmes), ironically perhaps, is undermined by the literature on treatment effectiven ess in psychotherapy and counselling; arguably the parent discipline of ‘what works’.Here, the evidence suggests that the most crucial variables of all in determining treatment outcomes—chance factors, external factors and ‘client’ factors— relate to the personal and social contexts of interventions rather than to their contents (Asay and Lambert, 1999). Moreover, in terms of those variables which the therapist can in? uence, it is a recurring ? nding that no method of intervention is any more effective than the rest, and, instead, that there are common aspects of each intervention that are responsible for bringing about change (see Hubble et al. , 1999; Bozarth, 2000). These 52Criminology & Criminal Justice 6(1) ‘core conditions’ for effectiveness—empathy and genuineness; the establishment of a working alliance; and using person-centred, collaborative and ‘client-driven’ approaches—are perhaps familiar to probation staff, but not from earlier reviews of ‘what works? ’. 7 With regard to the probation paradigms reviewed earlier, these ? ndings are particularly signi? cant because, despite the disciplinary location and positivist approaches of these studies, the forms of treatment that they commend seem to be some way removed from those criticized by Bottoms and McWilliams (1979).Indeed, the notion of therapeutic or working alliance implies, as Bottoms and McWilliams (1979) advocated, that the worker and client share agreement on overall goals, agreement on the tasks that will lead to achievement of these goals and a bond of mutual respect and trust (Bordin, 1979). This seems explicitly to preclude the kind of attitudes and practices that Bottoms and McWilliams (1979) associated with treatment and that arguably characterize the prevailing ‘what works’ paradigm (McNeill, 2004b). Ethical arguments for a desistance paradigmLeaving aside these emerging empirical ? ndings and theoretical issues, desistance research has some clear ethical implications for the practice of offender management. The ? rst of these implications is perhaps already obvious. Rex’s (1999) research, reviewed in the context both of Maruna’s (2001) account of narrative reconstruction and of the evidence from psychotherapy research about the critical signi? cance of certain core conditions for treatment, points to the importance of developing penal practices that express certain practical virtues.Virtue-based approaches to ethics have experienced something of a resurgence in recent years (Pence, 1991), suggesting a shift in moral thinking from the question ‘what ought I to do? ’ to the question ‘what sort of person should I be? ’ In this context, one of the merits of desistance research is that by asking offenders about their experiences both of attempting desistance and of supervision, progress is made towards answering the questi on that a would-be ‘virtuous’ offender manager might ask: What sort of practitioner should I be?The virtues featured in responses from desisters might include optimism, hopefulness, patience, persistence, fairness, respectfulness, trustworthiness, loyalty, wisdom, compassion, ? exibility and sensitivity (to difference), for example. The practical import of the expression of these virtues is suggested by recent discussions of the enforcement of community penalties, which have emerged particularly (but not exclusively) where community penalties have been recast as ‘punishment in the community’. This recasting of purpose has increased the need for effective enforcement in order that courts regard community penalties as credible disposals.Though the language of ‘enforcement’ implies an emphasis on ensuring the meaningfulness and inevitability of sanctions in the event of non-compliance, Bottoms (2001) has argued convincingly that attempts to encour age or require compliance in McNeill—A desistance paradigm for offender management the criminal justice system must creatively mix habitual mechanisms, constraint-based mechanisms, instrumental mechanisms and normative mechanisms (related to beliefs, attachments and perceptions of legitimacy).What seems clear from the desistance research is that, through the establishment of effective relationships, the worker’s role in supporting compliance is likely to be particularly crucial to the development of these normative mechanisms. It is only within relationships that model the kinds of virtues described above that the formal authority conferred on the worker by the court is likely to be rendered legitimate in the mind of the offender. Just as perceptions of legitimacy play a key role in encouraging compliance with prison regimes (Sparks et al. 1996), so in the community legitimacy is likely to be a crucial factor both in preventing breach by persuading offenders to comply with the order and, perhaps, in preventing recidivism by persuading offenders to comply with the law. This notion of moral persuasion (and modelling) as a role for offender managers resonates with some aspects of Anthony Duff’s penal communications theory (Duff, 2001, 2003). Duff (2003) has argued that probation can and should be considered a mode of punishment; indeed he argues that it could be the model punishment.However, the notion of punishment that he advances is not ‘merely punitive’; that is, it is not concerned simply with the in? iction of pain as a form of retribution. Rather it is a form of ‘constructive punishment’ that in? icts pain only in so far as this is an inevitable (and intended) consequence of ‘bringing offenders to face up to the effects and implications of their crimes, to rehabilitate them and to secure . . . reparation and reconciliation’ (Duff, 2003: 181). The pains involved are akin to the unavoidable pains of repentance.For Duff, this implies a role for probation staff as mediators between offenders, victims and the wider community. Though developing the connections between Duff’s theory and desistance research is beyond the scope of this article, Maruna’s (2001) study underlines the signi? cance for desisters of the ‘redemption’ that is often achieved through engagement in ‘generative activities’ which help to make sense of a damaged past by using it to protect the future interests of others. It seems signi? ant that this ‘buying back’ is productive rather than destructive; that is, the right to be rehabilitated is not the product of experiencing the pains of ‘merely punitive’ punishment, rather it is the result of evidencing repentance and change by ‘making good’. In working to support the reconstruction of identity involved in desistance, this seems to underline the relevance of the redemptive opportunitie s that both community penalties and restorative justice approaches might offer.No less obvious, by contrast, are the futility and counter-productiveness of penal measures that label, that exclude and that segregate and co-locate offenders as offenders. Such measures seem designed to con? rm and cement ‘condemnation scripts’ and thus to frustrate desistance. However, as well as highlighting the importance of encouraging and supporting offenders in the painful process of making good, the desistance 53 54 Criminology & Criminal Justice 6(1) research at least hints at the reciprocal need for society to make good to offenders.Just as both Bottoms and McWilliams (1979) and Raynor and Vanstone (1994) recognized the moral implications of accepting the role that social inequalities and injustices play in provoking offending behaviour, so Duff (2003) argues that the existence of social injustice creates moral problems for the punishing polity. The response must be ‘a genuin e and visible attempt to remedy the injustices and exclusion that they [that is, some offenders] have suffered’ (Duff, 2003: 194). Duff suggests that this implies that: the probation of? cer . . . ill now have to help the offender negotiate his relationship with the polity against which he has offended, but by whom he has been treated unjustly and disrespectfully: she must speak for the polity to the offender in terms that are censorious but also apologetic—terms that seek both to bring him to recognise the wrong he has done and to express an apologetic recognition of the injustice he has suffered: and she must speak to the polity for the offender, explaining what is due to him as well as what is due for him. (2003: 194, emphasis added)Thus the help and practical support advocated in the non-treatment paradigm can now be re-legitimated both empirically, in terms of the need to build social capital in supporting desistance, and normatively (even within a punishment disc ourse) as a prerequisite for making punishment both intelligible and just for offenders. Recognition of interactions between, on the one hand, exclusion and inequalities and, on the other, crime and justice, also lies behind some of the arguments for rehabilitative approaches to punishment. Such arguments tend to lead to rights-based rather than utilitarian versions of rehabilitation.For McWilliams and Pease (1990), rights-based rehabilitation serves a moral purpose on behalf of society in limiting punishment and preventing exclusion by working to re-establish the rights and the social standing of the offender. By contrast, Garland (1997) describes how, in late-modern penality, a more instrumental version of rehabilitation has emerged in which the offender need not (perhaps cannot) be respected as an end in himself or herself; he or she has become the means to another end. He or she is not, in a sense, the subject of the court order, but its object.In this version, rehabilitation is not an over-riding purpose, it is a subordinate means. It is offence-centred rather than offender-centred; it targets criminogenic need rather than social need. The problem with this version of rehabilitation, however, is that it runs all the same moral risks that led Bottoms and McWilliams (1979) to reject treatment; it permits, in theory at least, all of the same injustices, violations of human rights and disproportionate intrusions that concerned, for example, the American Friends Services Committee in 1971, and led ultimately to the emergence of ‘just deserts’ (von Hirsch, 1976; Home Of? e, 1990). Indeed, in England and Wales, the current situation is worse in one respect: McNeill—A desistance paradigm for offender management the removal of the need for offenders’ consent to the imposition of community penalties (under the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997), which made some sense in the context of the move towards seeing probation as a proportionate punishme nt, means that offenders can now be compelled to undertake ‘treatment’ in the form of accredited programmes.In a recent article, Lewis (2005) has drawn on the work of the ‘new rehabilitationists’ (Cullen and Gilbert, 1982; Rotman, 1990) to revive the case for a rights-based approach to rehabilitation; meaning one which is concerned with the reintegration of offenders into society as ‘useful human beings’. According to Lewis, the principles of the new rehabilitationists include commitment to, ? rst, the state’s duty to undertake rehabilitative work (for similar reasons to those outlined above); second, somehow setting limits on the intrusions of rehabilitation in terms of proportionality; third, maximizing voluntarism in the process; and, ? ally, using prison only as a measure of last resort because of its negative and damaging effects. In exploring the extent to which these principles are articulated and applied in current penal policy, she reaches the conclusion that ‘current rehabilitative efforts are window-dressing on an overly punitive â€Å"managerialist† system’ (Lewis, 2005: 119), though she retains some hope that practitioner-led initiatives at the local level might allow some prospect that these principles could be applied.The value of the desistance research may be that just as the evidence about ‘nothing works’ allowed Bottoms and McWilliams (1979) to make a theoretical and empirical case for more ethical practice, and the evidence that ‘something works’ enabled Raynor and Vanstone (1994) to revise that case, so the evidence from desistance studies, when combined with these constructive developments in the philosophy of punishment, might do a similar job in a different and arguably more destructive penal climate. 55 Conclusions: a desistance paradigmThis article has sought to follow the example offered by Bottoms and McWilliams (1979) and Raynor and Vanstone (1994) by trying to build both empirical and ethical cases for the development of a new paradigm for probation practice. In summary, I have suggested that desistance is the process that offender management exists to promote and support; that approaches to intervention should be embedded in understandings of desistance; and, that it is important to explore the connections between structure, agency, re? exivity and identity in desistance processes. Moreover, desistance-supporting interventions need to respect and foster agency and re? xivity; they need to be based on legitimate and respectful relationships; they need to focus on social capital (opportunities) as well as human capital (motivations and capacities); and they need to exploit strengths as well as addressing needs and risks. I have also suggested that desistance research highlights the relevance of certain ‘practice virtues’; that it requires a focus 56 Criminology & Criminal Justice 6(1) on the role of legiti macy in supporting normative mechanisms of compliance; that it is consonant in many respects with communicative approaches to punishment which cast probation of? ers (or offender managers) as mediators between offenders, victims and communities; and that it suggests a rights-based approach to rehabilitation which entails both that the offender makes good to society and that, where injustice has been suffered by the offender, society makes good to the offender. Like the authors of the earlier paradigms, I do not intend here to offer a detailed account of precisely how a desistance paradigm might operate in practice (for some initial suggestions see McNeill, 2003). That task is one that could be more fruitfully undertaken by those working in the ? ld, preferably in association with offenders themselves. However, in an attempt to suggest some direction for such development, Table 1 summarizes the contrasts between the constructions of practice implied by the nontreatment, revised, â₠¬Ëœwhat works’ and desistance paradigms. Unlike the earlier paradigms, the desistance paradigm forefronts processes of change rather than modes of intervention. Practice under the desistance paradigm would certainly accommodate intervention to meet needs, reduce risks and (especially) to develop and exploit strengths, but Table 1.Probation practice in four paradigms The non-treatment paradigm Treatment becomes help The revised paradigm Help consistent with a commitment to the reduction of harm A ‘what works’ paradigm Intervention required to reduce re-offending and protect the public A desistance paradigm Help in navigating towards desistance to reduce harm and make good to offenders and victims8 Explicit dialogue and negotiation assessing risks, needs, strengths and resources and offering opportunities to make good Collaboratively de? ed tasks which tackle risks, needs and obstacles to desistance by using and developing the offender’s human and social cap ital Diagnoses becomes shared assessment Explicit dialogue and negotiation offering opportunities for consensual change ‘Professional’ assessment of risk and need governed by structured assessment instruments Client’s dependent need as the basis for action becomes collaboratively de? ned task as the basis for action Collaboratively de? ed task relevant to criminogenic needs and potentially effective in meeting them Compulsory engagement in structured programmes and case management processes as required elements of legal orders imposed irrespective of consent McNeill—A desistance paradigm for offender management whatever these forms might be they would be subordinated to a more broadly conceived role in working out, on an individual basis, how the desistance process might best be prompted and supported.This would require the worker to act as an advocate providing a conduit to social capital as well as a ‘treatment’ provider building human capit al. Moreover, rather than being about the technical management of programmes and the disciplinary management of orders, as the current term ‘offender manager’ unhelpfully implies, the forms of engagement required by the paradigm would re-instate and place a high premium on collaboration and involvement in the process of co-designing interventions.Critically, such interventions would not be concerned solely with the prevention of further offending; they would be equally concerned with constructively addressing the harms caused by crime by encouraging offenders to make good through restorative processes and community service (in the broadest sense). But, as a morally and practically necessary corollary, they would be no less preoccupied with making good to offenders by enabling them to achieve inclusion and participation in society (and with it the progressive and positive reframing of their identities required to sustain desistance).Perhaps the most obvious problem that might be confronted by anyone seeking to envision further or even enact this paradigm, is that the communities on which its ultimate success would depend may lack the resources and the will to engage in supporting desistance, preferring to remain merely ‘punishing communities’ (Worrall and Hoy, 2005). This is, of course, an issue for any form of ‘offender management’ or reintegration.However, rather than letting it become an excuse for dismissing the paradigm, it should drive us to a recognition of the need for offender management agencies to re-engage with community education and community involvement and to seek ways and means, at the local level and at the national level, to challenge populist punitiveness (Bottoms, 1995) and to offer more progressive alternatives. 57 NotesI am very grateful to Steve Farrall and Richard Sparks for their hospitality in hosting the seminars through which this article was developed and to all of the contributors to the semi nars both for their helpful and encouraging comments on earlier versions and for the stimulation that their papers provided. I am also grateful to Monica Barry, Mike Nellis and Gwen Robinson for comments on the draft version of this article. Though I have grave reservations about the term ‘offender management’ (relating to its obvious inference that the offender is a problem to be managed rather than person to be assisted and that the task is technical rather than moral), I use it here, not just because of its contemporary relevance, but also because it refers both to community disposals and postprison resettlement. 8 Criminology & Criminal Justice 6(1) 2 Owing to their pessimism about the prospects for treatment delivering their fourth aim (the reduction of crime), Bottoms and McWilliams turned their attention to other crime reduction strategies and in particular to crime prevention. Their argument in this connection was essentially that because ‘crime is predomi nantly social . . . ny serious crime reduction strategy must be of a socially (rather than an individually) based character’ (Bottoms and McWilliams, 1979: 188). 3 That said, they allowed that: ‘there is, ironically, at least a tiny shred of research evidence to suggest that, after all, help may be more crime-reducing than treatment’ (Bottoms and McWilliams, 1979: 174). To support this claim they referred to two studies that presaged later desistance research; the ? st suggested that although intensive casework treatment had no apparent impact, changes in the post-institutional social situations of offenders (for example, getting married or securing a job) were associated with reductions in recidivism (Bottoms and McClintock, 1973); the second suggested that treatment did demonstrate lower reconviction rates where the ‘treatment’ involved primarily practical help which was given only if and when offenders asked for it (Bernsten and Christiansen, 1965 ). 4 This section of the article draws heavily on McNeill et al. (2005). 5 It may be that this gap in theory s in part the product of the incremental and quasi-experimental character of ‘what works’ research; indeed it might even be said that the ‘what works’ philosophy is anti-theoretical in that it is more preoccupied with identifying and replicating successes than in explaining and understanding them (Farrall, 2002). 6 Signi? cantly, Boeck et al. ’s (2004) emerging ? ndings suggest that bridging social capital in particular (which facilitates social mobility) seems to be limited among those young people in their study involved in offending, leaving them ill-equipped to navigate risk successfully. That said, some recent studies have begun to explore the contribution of particular practice skills to effectiveness. Raynor refers in particular to a recent article by Dowden and Andrews (2004) based on a meta-analysis examining the contribution of certa in key staff skills (which they term ‘core correctional practices’ or CCPs) to the effectiveness of interventions with offenders. 8 It is with some unease that I have merely mentioned but not developed arguments about the importance of making good to (and for) victims in this article.I am therefore grateful to Mike Nellis for highlighting the contingent relationships between offenders making good and making amends to victims. There is little empirical evidence that desistance requires making amends or making good to particular victims, although there are of course independent and compelling reasons why this matters in its own right. As Nellis suggests (personal communication, 18 August 2005), the case for making amends requires separate justi? cation. He further suggests that from the point of view of interventions with offenders, it may be important not so much as an enabling factor in desistance as a signifying factor.Drawing on this distinction, my own view is that a lthough making amends is neither necessary nor suf? cient for desistance to occur, it may be useful none the less in consigning the past to the past (for victims and offenders) and thus in entrenching redemption scripts (for offenders). McNeill—A desistance paradigm for offender management References American Friends Services Committee (1971) Struggle for Justice. New York: Hill & Wang. Asay, T. P. and M. J. Lambert (1999) ‘The Empirical Case for the Common Factors in Therapy: Quantitative Findings’, in M. A. Hubble, B. L. Duncan and S. D.Miller (eds) The Heart and Soul of Change: What Works in Therapy, pp. 33–56. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. 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