Evaluation of the Sycamore Tree Programme

In 2009, Sheffield Hallam University, in conjunction with Manchester Metropolitan University, were commissioned to undertake an evaluation of the Sycamore Tree programme by Prison Fellowship England and Wales.

The Sycamore Tree Programme is a victim awareness programme that teaches the principles and application of restorative justice.

A key objective of the Sycamore Tree programme is to improve the programme participants' attitudes towards the victims of their offending behaviour. It also encourages prisoners to accept personal responsibility for their actions and points to the need to make amends. At the end of the programme, prisoners are given the opportunity to make a symbolic act of restitution, taking the first step towards making amends for their past behaviour.

5,007 sets of questionnaires were inputted for participants who had completed the Sycamore Tree programme. The conclusion of the evaluation was the Sycamore Tree programme has a positive impact on programme respondents with a reduction between pre- and post-programme scores on all scales.

However, the analysis of programme impact by institutions suggests that some institutions have better results than others.