Case History - Young Offenders: ongoing research
Thursday 10th March 2011
MUSICAL PATHWAYS - An exploration of Healthy Identities in Young Offenders
"One does not need to have any formal knowledge of music - nor, indeed,-to be particularly 'musical' - to enjoy music and to respond to it at the deepest levels. It (music) may be developed or shaped by the cultures we live in, by the circumstances of life, or by the particular gifts or weaknesses we have as individuals-but it lies so deep in human nature that one is tempted to think of it as innate."
Oliver Sacks summarizes the power of music clearly in this statement. Due to his work, music is now a recognized therapy for many mental and physical health conditions. In particular it helps form our identity to the same extent as language does.
Project Background
Live Music Now has seen the great power music has to change lives. Through our South West branch's work in the Youth Justice System we have seen the way working with music fosters better relationships with peers, builds confidence, provides a sense of belonging, alleviates stress, and provides a sense of achievement.
We have learned that channelling participants' creative energy leads to greatly improved self-worth and identity. Music has important cultural resonance for many young people who may find it difficult to express themselves, reaching young people in ways mainstream health and education services may struggle.
The amount of creative talent we find in prisons leads us to believe that many people who find their way into the justice system are those who have been denied an outlet for this creativity. This denial, a form of social exclusion, leads to lack of personal identity, and therefore confidence. Music is a great identity builder. Sense of identity is what everyone needs to exist comfortably within society.
This project will research the young offender population, as this is the point in their lives when vital identity forming activity takes place. This research, taking place in 3 different justice settings, is principally interested in the long term effects of music intervention, and its power to turn young people away from criminal activity.
The Need for Research
LMN has worked extensively in the Youth Justice System in the South West for the last 5 years, observing an abundance of creative skill & energy. We have witnessed our workshops validating a young person's creativity as important, empowering them to follow a positive path forward. Music therapy is now a recognized tool in many health areas and we believe strongly that it would be of tremendous benefit in the Youth Justice system. Only through a proper research study, exploring whether music has the power to rebuild identity, forming a pathway away from criminal activity, can LMN have any influence on the Youth Justice policy makers and commissioners of music's therapeutic benefits.
Participatory arts can bring demonstrable benefits to offender populations, especially improvements to mental health. The strongest evidence is for music, which can provide opportunities for creativity, self- expression and positive identity affirmation.
The health of young offenders is significantly poorer relative to the general population. Most come from socially excluded backgrounds and experience higher rates of drug and alcohol abuse, victimization, violence or abuse, as well as high re-offending rates.
The Music Programmes
Our Music Programmes will run over a 2-3 month period, the sessions themselves running once a week for 9 weeks. The length of time is important as it allows participants to reflect, adapt, and change. Participants will benefit immediately from the uplifting nature of the experience of music and working together. The many skills gained throughout the programme such as social interaction, trust & respect, confidence, communication, and emotional management, will be lasting benefits that shape participants future paths.
The participants in the music programmes will directly benefit from the music experience, as will a selection of Officers, Teachers, Education Managers, Heads of Learning and Skills, from each venue from observing how a music programme works, and what the resulting benefits are. Each programme will have about 15 participants.
Brief Summary of Research
The lead organisation, LMN SW, will be working with researchers from the University of Western England, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, specializing in Offender Health. This partnership will greatly improve LMN's knowledge and experience in doing research, and in disseminating findings to relevant bodies. We hope this partnership will be used in future projects.
A 3 year project of a mixed methods research design will yield both quantitative & qualitative data on the 'lived experiences' of young offenders. Qualitative interviewing (one-to-one and focus groups) will be conducted with participants in 6 music programmes, across 3 types of justice settings, Young Offenders Institutes(YOIs), Youth Offending Teams(YOTs), and Juvenile Secure Units. Six individuals will participate in biographical research over the three-year period, following their pathways from before, during, and after musical intervention.
Biographical and phenomenological approaches will explore how music can improve health and reducing re-offending. Up to fifty participants will be recruited via Youth Offending Teams and youth custody settings.
The LMN music programme aims to improve health and well being, and sense of identity. The programme provides an alternative way of learning focusing on creative expression and 'soft skills', potentially a much greater need in the young offender community. Stronger personal skills leads to better chances of success in education/employment. Social interaction in music making improves the willingness of offenders to work together. This programme will increase understanding of the value of soft skills. Working with the steering group, staff and offenders will increase LMN's understanding of offender behaviour, and how to create a programme that addresses these.
"It was nice that everyone was talking about music for a while and not about drugs and things. We have new respect for each other now."
"It was a completely different atmosphere, not prison anymore. I feel more confident about hooking up with a band when I'm out."
Prisoner participants - HMP Guys Marsh
Musical Pathways Steering Group
