Traditional approaches in the Criminal Justice System have focused on societal causes of crime, addressing them through punitive measures with mixed efficacy. Recent shifts toward positive psychological interventions aim to improve recidivism but often overlook the role of compassion. The COMPASS Model in Criminal and Forensic Psychology demonstrates how a compassionate approach, informed by positive psychology, can offer a more effective strategy in reforming criminal behavior.
The Durkin COMPASS Model offers a groundbreaking theoretical framework for criminology and forensic psychology, integrating compassion and positive psychology with evidence-based practice to facilitate desistence from crime. It capitalizes on the strengths central to positive psychology, fostering hope and well-being, while its compassion element emphasizes empathetic understanding and self-healing. Durkin adopts a holistic perspective, considering an individual’s complete background, including trauma and personal strengths, rather than focusing solely on the crime. Designed for practical implementation, the COMPASS Model equips practitioners with tools to reduce recidivism, support offender rehabilitation, and contribute to their overall well-being, marking a significant shift towards nurturing a pro-social identity as a means of crime reduction.
The COMPASS Model in Criminal and Forensic Psychology serves as a crucial resource for criminal justice practitioners, policymakers, academics, and advocates, offering innovative, evidence-based strategies from compassion and positive psychology to transform offender rehabilitation and inform systemic change in the criminal justice landscape.
Table of Contents:
Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. The Biopsychosocial Reasons for Why People Offend
Chapter 3. Current Models for the Rehabilitation and Prevention of Offending Behaviour
Chapter 4. Compassion-Focused Therapy/Compassionate Mind Training Theory
Chapter 5. Positive Psychology Theory and Practice
Chapter 6. Desistance Capital
Chapter 7. Bringing it all Together: Introducing the COMPASS Model for Criminal and Forensic Psychology
Chapter 8. Assessing the COMPASS Model
About the Author :
Mark A. Durkin is Lecturer in the School of Psychology at Leeds Trinity University, UK.
Review :
Dr Mark A. Durkin’s work developing the COMPASS Model framework is both innovative and needed within Forensic psychological settings. The model emphasises a holistic approach to forensic practice and therefore makes for a more comprehensive approach to understanding and responding to people involved in the criminal justice system. This book introduces the reader to this new framework in detail and is clearly going to be of great use to those seeking to better understand offending populations (students, academics) but also those implementing the model within their forensic practice.
This book is remarkable, unique and innovative at its core. Mark's work incorporates criminological and positive psychological knowledge of theory, evidence and indeed his own lived experience of receiving criminal justice interventions and desisting from crime. Mark's COMPASS Model constructs as a compassionate umbrella, encompassing the leading models within the 'what works' framework. COMPASS provides criminal justice practitioners with an evidence-based tool, integrating and expanding on what is currently known to develop desistance capital, through the recognition of valuing justice involved peoples past, their present and their future. In his own words, the model doesn't claim to know 'what works', but rather draws on 'how it works.' There is no doubt that this book will enhance the knowledge of criminal justice practice at time when we are in desperate need of innovation.
The COMPASS Model in Criminal and Forensic Psychology is a thought-provoking book that thoroughly unpacks the complex journey of moving away from criminal behaviour. The author combines academic rigor with accessible writing, making it a valuable resource for both students and professionals in Forensic Psychology. The book offers a practical and holistic perspective to desistence and recovery. Engaging, well-structured, and deeply informative, this text is an essential contribution to criminological and psychological literature.
Navigating the environment of the criminal justice system is a highly complex journey for professionals, the public, and the offender. Many years of attempted punishment, shaming, reintegration and rehabilitation have created a landscape in which everybody can get lost. Moving forward into new and less damaging futures is fraught with the possibility of losing our way and failure. Durkin has created this Compass model, by building upon his previous work and bringing a fresh perspective to addressing and reducing future offending. The integration of compassion, and the simple but effective visual model, helps describe the journey onwards and upwards. This allows all who travel this route, offenders in particular, to build upon strength and hope, and not wallow in despair and failure. An excellent read!
This book is a very refreshing and eye-opening piece of work! Mark highlights the often-overlooked realities of life’s challenges for those with an offending history, and the transformative power of a compassion-focused perspective. Providing examples of personal narratives and offering an insightful analysis, the author describes how their new model can offers a hopeful vision for rehabilitation and reintegration. This book is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of the rehabilitation process and the profound impact of compassion and understanding in fostering genuine change.
