Systematic review of ‘Good Lives’ assumptions and interventions

Abstract

The Good Lives Model (GLM) is an increasingly popular framework of offender rehabilitation used internationally for a variety of offending typologies. However, opponents have suggested the GLM is an ideological and intuition-based model, rather than an empirically supported framework. The current article systematically reviews the literature pertaining to two aspects of the GLM. Firstly, the GLM assumptions (primary goods, obstacles, and pathways to offending), and, secondly, outcomes of GLM-consistent interventions (recidivism, pre-post treatment change, and service user perspectives). Electronic and hand searches were conducted and completed in August, 2019; N = 17 studies met the inclusion criteria, with n = 12 examining the GLM’s assumptions, and n = 5 assessing outcomes of GLM-consistent interventions. Findings were mixed regarding the GLM assumptions, although this may be due to differences in measurements used to assess primary goods across studies. However, GLM-consistent interventions were found to be at least as effective as standard relapse prevention programs, whilst enhancing participants’ motivation to change and engagement in treatment. To fully establish the GLM as an empirically supported model, more high quality, rigorous evaluations of both the GLM assumptions and outcomes of GLM-consistent interventions is needed.