Implications of the National Offender Management Service for Prison Officers, 2006

The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) was introduced in June 2004. It is intended to integrate the prison and probation services and to provide an operational framework for the 'end-to-end management' of offenders throughout custodial and community elements of their sentences. It also introduces a 'purchaser-provider split' in the delivery of correctional services. <br> <br> The main objective of this mixed methodology study was to explore the perspectives and experiences of frontline prison staff regarding the transition to NOMS. Semi-structured interviews with prison officers and governing staff were carried out in 23 prisons, and demographic and other quantitative data collected. As well as documenting this key development in the history of the prison service and its perceived impact on practice, the research was focused on issues of interest to senior managers and those responsible for implementing change. <br> <br>