This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (5) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Garrett, P. M. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

'Sinbin' solutions

The 'pioneer' projects for 'problem families' and the forgetfulness of social policy research

National University of Ireland, Galway

The `problem family' has been re-excavated by New Labour and located at the centre of the drive against `anti-social behaviour'. Associated with this is a plan, announced at the launch of the Respect Action Plan, to put in place a network of `intensive family support' schemes: the so-called `sinbins'. It is maintained that this is a retrogressive development and needs to be viewed in the context of debates that took place on the `problem family', in Britain and elsewhere in Europe, in the past. Examining research reports that `evaluate' the existing `sinbins' it is argued that these are lacking in reflexive hesitancy and insufficiently critical. It is also suggested that social policy researchers, frequently funded by government grants when investigating `social problems', need to retain a certain wariness and scepticism before providing research `products' which seem to largely endorse the policy and practice `solutions' that the State, committed to the maintenance of social order, has formulated.

Key Words: `anti-social families' • ill health • poverty • Respect Task Force • `social problems'

Critical Social Policy, Vol. 27, No. 2, 203-230 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/026108306075711


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. M. Garrett Marx and `Modernization': Reading Capital as Social Critique and Inspiration for Social Work Resistance to Neoliberalization Journal of Social Work, April 1, 2009; 9(2): 199 - 221. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Parr Family Intervention Projects: A Site of Social Work Practice Br. J. Soc. Work, April 29, 2008; (2008) bcn057v2. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. M. Garrett The Relevance of Bourdieu for Social Work: A Reflection on Obstacles and Omissions Journal of Social Work, December 1, 2007; 7(3): 355 - 379. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Nixon Deconstructing `problem' researchers and `problem' families: A rejoinder to Garrett Critical Social Policy, November 1, 2007; 27(4): 546 - 556. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Bannister, M. Hill, and S. Scott More sinned against than sinbin? The forgetfulness of critical social policy? Critical Social Policy, November 1, 2007; 27(4): 557 - 560. [PDF]

				P. M. Garrett `Sinbin' research and the `lives of others': A rejoinder in an emerging and necessary debate Critical Social Policy, November 1, 2007; 27(4): 560 - 564. [PDF]