Restricted accessOtherFirst published online 2009-06
What has meta-analysis ever done for me? A comment on the context and value of the research presented in: `Is custody an effective sentencing option for the UK? Evidence from a meta-analysis of existing studies'
This edition of the Probation Journal contains an article by Kevin Marsh, Chris Fox and Rashmi Sarmah on an evidence review and meta-analysis of the evidence on prison as an effective sentencing option. This comment piece provides some detail on the context of the research and a more general introduction to the methodology. The value of this type of research and some of the limitations are also discussed.
Davies, P. (2003) The Magenta Book: Guidance Notes for Policy Evaluation and Analysis, Chapter 2: What Do we Already Know?London : Cabinet Office.
2.
GSR and the EPPI Centre (2008) Rapid Evidence Assessment Toolkit. URL: http://www.gsr.gov.uk/professionalguidance/reatoolkit/sitemap.asp
3.
Marsh, K. and C. Fox (2008) `The Benefit and Cost of Prison in the UK. The Results of a Model of Lifetime Re-offending', Journal of Experimental Criminology4(4): 403-23.
4.
Marsh, K., C. Fox and R. Sarmah (2009) `Is Custody an Effective Sentencing Option for the UK? Evidence from a Meta-analysis of Existing Studies', Probation Journal56(2): 127-149.
5.
Matrix Knowledge Group (2007) The Economic Case For and Against Prison, Technical Appendix. URL: http://matrixknowledge.com/wp-content/uploads/technical-appendix.pdf
