”Many decades of research regarding what works in offender supervision has shown us that effective practice skills can lead to real reductions in re-offending rates. In particular we know that outcomes are good for offenders when they understand the nature and purpose of supervision, when they are given assistance to deal with their problems, when their workers model and re-enforce pro-social values and actions and when they have good working relationships with their supervisors.
One of the biggest challenges corrections departments face today is how to develop these effective practice skills in an environment which often encourages punitive rather than rehabilitative approaches. This manual by Ioan Durnescu helps in this process by addressing the effective practice skills in detail and providing a foundation for the development of the skills in practice.”

Ioan Durnescu has done much important work in recent years to deepen our understanding of the skills needed to work effectively and ethically in probation, criminal justice social work and associated professions. He has now compiled an invaluable set of learning materials for staff working with involuntary clients. Among the topics and skills so clearly elaborated in this manual are the therapeutic alliance, empathy, prosocial modelling and motivational interviewing. Whether used in individual study and reflection, discussed in groups and teams or used by trainers, these accessible and well-judged materials will help all practitioners to identify, consolidate and develop their core skills in correctional practice.

”Ioan Durnescu’s book will provide an indispensable resource for criminal justice practitioners responsible for supporting rehabilitation. While recognising the complex social contexts of reintegration, this volume focuses simply and squarely on the fundamentals of supporting positive human development in criminal justice settings. For anyone involved with this challenging work, this book is a great place to explore not just ‘what works?’, but also about 'who works?’ and 'what matters?'.”

”Professor Durnescu's training kit integrates many useful resources in a practical style that will be appreciated by service delivery staff.”

The “Core Correctional Skills” training kit elaborated by Ioan Durnescu is really welcome in the work with involuntary clients. In the probation field, developing the professional skills and reaching the right professional position is a real challenge to successfully support people to change and to lead a law-abiding life. As an organization, we somehow look for superwomen and supermen. Ioan Durnescu exposes the attitudes and tools in a very precise and understandable way in order to provide the professionals with the possibility to choose between different approaches. The case examples, practice advices, key findings, words of caution, and reflection points when necessary, make the presentation dynamic.
Moreover, the overview of appropriate theories or practices and their latest developments is invaluable. Also, the strength of the manual resides in the use of significant practical examples that practitioners can relate to. Through his own practice and knowledge, it is really sensible that Ioan Durnescu shows the complementarity as well as the need for tools and reflection, supervision, and case discussion. No automatism or unique recipe exists but there is a professional position to develop, and Ioan helps us to do so.