इच्च्ज

Trainee Advert

The shift that has taken place in the Probation Service over the years is well illustrated the latest advert for Trainee Probation Officers.
http://www.probation.homeoffice.gov.uk/files/pdf/Trainee%20Probation%20Officer%20Advert%202006.pdf

It shows how the relationship, needs, and rehabilitation of the offender have almost slipped off the agenda. The main captions in large letters across the centre of the page state:

--PROTECT THE PUBLIC--
--REDUCE REOFFENDING--
--ASSIST VICTIMS OF CRIME--
--MANAGE RISK--
--ENFORCE SENTENCES--

This is very much about representating the state to the individual and says nothing about representing the individual to the state.

I would suggest it shows a serious lack of balance. The only mention in respect of the offender is that they are 'most difficult' and 'sometimes dangerous' !!!

The roles listed above are an important part of the job but so is appreciating and engaging with the social context of offenders (poor education, damaged childhood family experiences, lack of qualifications, unemployment, low self esteem, unstable accomodation, mental health problems, addiction, abuse etc) These are key factors that effect the majority of the prison population. For evidence of this check out the excellent report by the Governments own Social Exclision Unit

http://www.socialexclusion.gov.uk/publications.asp?did=190

The NPS will need Probation staff who can engage, understand, work alongside, address social inequalities, and help to equip and enable the offender to engage constructively in society.

Julian Buchanan
Reader in Comminity Justice
Social Inclusion Research Unit
NEWI
j.buchanan@newi.ac.uk

Advise, Assist & Befriend vs. Punish, Monitor & Manage Risk

The Probation Service has an excellent history of maintaining a healthy balance between care and control. Of appreciating their responsibility to wider society while at the same time working to rehabilitate the offender (client). Of understanding the issue of justice for the wrong done by the offender, but also placing the offender within a social context.

Some would argue that in recent years the changes within criminal justice- and very much reflected with the reconfiguring of the Probation Service - suggests the balance between care and control has been lost. Has the Service become consumed with representing the authority of the state to the offender, to the extent that advise, assist and befriend no longer seems appropriate or relevant? Is a 'relationship' between the Probation Officer and the offender they supervise no longer relevant? Or are these changes inevitable and necessary given the shifting nature and context of society?

What do you think? What are your views on this subject? What is your experience?

Welcome

The 2006 Probation Journal special edition will be on ‘The Future of Crime and Rehabilitation’.
http://www.sagepub.co.uk/journal.aspx?pid=105742

This is in recognition of the current transitions in criminal justice and especially of the approaching centenary of the probation service which was established upon the notion of ‘advise, assist and befriend’. In order to capture the views of staff working at all levels within the probation service and those concerned with criminal justice more generally, (without the requirement for them to formally submit papers), this on-line blog has been set up.

We would encourage you to post comments, positive or negative, brief or long, about how you see work with offenders developing over the coming years, and what place if any does rehabilitation have?

We intend to publish an edited version of the blog in the special edition - please leave your name, position and location after your contributions - thanks Julian Buchanan, Deputy Editor Probation Journal