Partnership between the probation service and voluntary sector organizations

Abstract

This paper considers the development of inter-agency partnerships between the probation service and voluntary sector organizations in the early 1990s in England and Wales and reports the results of research by the author and their implications for youth justice arrangements outlined in the recent 1998 Crime and Disorder Act. The article outlines the development of probation partnerships and the impact of changes to probation services, voluntary organizations and service users which include: a shift towards purchaser-provider and contract-based arrangements; voluntary organizations taking on a role to work with involuntary clients; and the introduction of a discourse on partnerships which marginalizes small, informal voluntary groups. These findings are then considered in relation to the Crime and Disorder Partnerships for crime prevention which form a crucial part of the 1988 Criminal Justice Act. The Crime and Disorder Partnerships have less emphasis on a managerialist agenda but offer no extra resources and this article suggests that they may therefore not result in significant benefits for agencies working with young offenders.