In England and Wales, there has been a remarkable turnaround in the fortunes of the probation service; there has been increased confidence by government, there has been a radical reorganization, staff levels have grown, and all these are grounded in the What Works initiative. What Works was a reaction to “nothing works.” The questions raised are is it a powerful foundation and is it an example of rational policy development. This chapter examines the origins of What Works in England and Wales and the current conditions under which it is being practiced. As What Works rapidly assumes the status of an orthodoxy which cannot be challenged, a critical examination is necessary, as well as the need to question issues of significance. Despite the claims made by the National Probation Service (NPS) the What Works initiative, a massive undertaking in criminal justice experimentation and one which carries huge risks for the National Probation Service, is not based on solid ground and is being implemented in not particularly conducive circumstances. It shows what might be described as not very encouraging results. The current indicators discussed were not encouraging. In particular, there were significant problems in getting individuals to complete programs. References