Applying complexity theory : whole systems approaches to criminal justice and social work / [electronic resource]
Pycroft, Aaron,author.
Bartollas, Clemens,author.
This is the first book to explore the application of complexity theory to difficult practice issues in criminal justice and social work. Bringing together experts in this emerging field to address complexity theory from a range of perspectives, it provides a detailed but accessible discussion of the key issues to whole systems approaches.
APPLYING COMPLEXITY THEORY; Contents; List of tables and figures; Tables; Figures; Notes on contributors; Introduction; Acknowledgements and thanks; 1. Complexity theory: an overview; Introduction; The mathematical background to complexity; Chaos; The clockwork universe and the positivist tradition; Positivism and human agency; Differences between complex and complicated; Complex adaptive systems; A recapping of complex adaptive systems; Positivism, cellular automata and rule-based complexity; Post-positivism (realism); Constructivism (postmodernism); Quantum mechanics; Conclusion
2. Risk, attractors and organisational behaviour3. Why do people commit crime? An integrated systems perspective; Introduction; Integrated Systems Theory: the main argument; Integrated Systems Theory: major propositions; Integrated Systems Theory: a restatement; Integrated Systems Theory: developmental aspects; What is unique about Integrated Systems Theory?; Examples of complexity and crime; Conclusions; 4. Complexity and the emergence of social work and criminal justice programmes; The four states of systems; Components of complex systems; Innovation, maintenance and evaluation
Considerations for social programmes5. Child protection practice and complexity; Introduction; The development of child protection practice as a linear process; The role of complexity theory in understanding child protection; Case example; Discussion; Conclusion; 6. Youth justice: from linear risk paradigm to complexity; The hegemony of positivist criminology; The rise and dominance of risk-based youth justice in England and Wales; The complexity critique: fractal youth justice; The complexity critique: sensitive dependence on initial conditions
The complexity critique: unfractal measurement and insensitive analysisThe complexity critique: where next?; Conclusion: complex and contextualised youth justice; 7. The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry: a case study in policing and complexity; Introduction; The Metropolitan Police Service as a complex adaptive system; The Stephen Lawrence Public Inquiry; Analysis; Conclusions; 8. Intersecting contexts of oppression within complex public systems; Linking structural oppression to inequities in overall well-being; Understanding the issue using intersectionality theory
Blending intersectionality and complexity science to understand and address issues of oppressionPulling it all together: case study; Issues for continued debate; 9. Complexity theory, trans-disciplinary working and reflective practice; The real world of the practitioner; Complexity, health systems and risk; How to think about complex situations; Complexity and risk; What to do about complexity: the transdisciplinary perspective; How does the multidisciplinary team problem-solve; Trans-disciplinary working; A model of reflection-in/on-practice; A 'new' human service practitioner?; Conclusion
10. Probation practice and creativity in England and Wales: a complex systems analysis
Includes bibliographical references at the end of each chapters and index.
Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 04 Mar 2022).
This is the first book to explore the application of complexity theory to difficult practice issues in criminal justice and social work. Bringing together experts in this emerging field to address complexity theory from a range of perspectives, it provides a detailed but accessible discussion of the key issues to whole systems approaches.
Criminal justice, Administration of
Complexity (Philosophy)
Social service