Developments and challenges in probation practice: Is there a way forward for establishing effective and sustainable probation systems?

Abstract

Probation has been an historically important option for sanctioning criminal offending since the mid 1800s. Originally grounded in notions of volunteerism and community engagement to support rehabilitation of less serious offenders 'through understanding, kindness, and sustained moral suasion', probation was quickly institutionalized around the world as a major component of the criminal justice system. But modern probation practice is now struggling to define its proper aim, priorities and ways of working. Probation varies considerably across jurisdictions in how it is structured and organized, how well it is resourced, and how commonly it is used. But clearly what modern probation practice is 'able' to do in many jurisdictions does not match with what it 'should' do. The article will highlight some key challenges faced by probation and suggest some ways forward for it to get closer to what it 'should' do-in adopting a wellintegrated and evidence informed model of practice.

Exploring and Explaining Non-Compliance with Community Supervision

“…While overcoming some of the socio-structural and systemic constraints is beyond the capacities of individual practitioners to effect, at least, given the significance attached to meaningful interactions, and practical help, what these findings imply is the improved resourcing of statutory justice services, which in many jurisdictions are woefully under-resourced and over-stretched (HMIP, 2019;Porporino, 2018;SWS, 2019). Indeed, Porporino (2018: 76) achieve, and to explore how both agency and opportunity might be cultivated.…”

‘Within my work environment I don’t see gender as an issue’: Reflections on gender from a study of criminal justice social workers in Scotland

“…As CJSW and probation services across the UK and beyond continue to grapple with gendered questions of identity, purpose and method (Porporino, 2018;Robinson, Burke and Millings, 2016), located within broader global debates about how to conceptualise and advance justice within postsocialist neoliberal territories -where values of individualism, responsibilisation and social control now dominate (Arruzza, Bhattacharya and Fraser, 2019;Fraser, 2005), we set out to ask: how do gender issues play out today in CJSW's identity and practice? We explored this question in three ways: through a review of archival, documentary and research literature; a Scottish-wide online survey and three focus group interviews with practitioners in two local authorities in Scotland.…”

Seeing and believing: Observing desistance-focused practice and enduring values in the National Probation Service

“…In recognition of the argument that the potential of a desistance paradigm depends on the legal and organisational context (McNeill and Whyte, 2007), the study focused on the post-TR situation in the NPS whereby the management and intervention elements of the supervisory process have become increasingly disconnected, with NPS practitioners primarily responsible for assessing and managing the risk of those they supervise (Burke and Collett, 2015). The study aimed to tackle the ‘slippery fish’ that is one-to-one supervision as it ‘remains rather elusive, ill-defined and variant’ (Porporino, 2018: 79).…”