National Probation Service Research Articles

Domestic Violence Programmes: Reflections on the Shift from Independent to Statutory Provision

After years of ignoring the problem of domestic violence, criminal justice agencies are now becoming more actively involved in the issue. In the National Probation Service (NPS) this is taking the form of running groupwork programmes for men convicted of offences against women partners or ex‐partners. While the 1990s saw the development of practitioner‐led programmes linked to local multi‐agency initiatives, the service is now looking to incorporate domestic violence into its national strategy of Pathfinder Crime Reduction Programmes. This article reviews these developments and, drawing on a study of two local initiatives working with male perpetrators in the Midlands, highlights tensions around values, resourcing, and issues of power and control in the centralising of this particular area of offending behaviour work. It underlines the importance of open and ongoing dialogue between agencies working primarily with perpetrators or victims of domestic violence in order to ensure that women's safety is not compromised and concludes that the Home Office Probation Unit responsible for accrediting programmes faces a difficult task in relation to those addressing domestic violence.

Community Justice, Time and the New National Probation Service

Amongst the staff in the highly managerialised agencies of contemporary criminal justice, there is a clear and often painful awareness of ever‐tighter deadlines and increasing time scarcity. Nonetheless it has been correctly observed that ‘academic investigation of such issues has been hampered by the limited conceptions of time involved’ (Whipp 1994, p. 100). This is particularly true in criminology. The sociological understanding of time has grown apace in recent years (Adam 1990, 1995; Hassard 1990) but tends to have remained a specialist preserve which has impacted little on reflection about criminal justice processes, Pratt (1990) and Matthews (1999) excepted. As a result ‘our maps of time within [criminal justice] organisations of the late twentieth century are still woefully inadequate’ (Whipp 1994, p. 112, my addition). This article is an implicit commendation of the ‘sociology of time’ to criminologists, and an explicit application of some of its concepts and insights to the emerging National Probation Service in England and Wales, as projected in its recent mission statement, A New Choreography. The targets and deadlines set for the new Service are premised upon a commonplace but problematic notion of ‘managerial time’, which in a variety of ways is at odds with the feasible pace of change in the many local communities with which the Service will be working.

Halliday, Sentencers and the National Probation Service

In the overview of Halliday's review of the sentencing framework for England and Wales, it is noted that 'A framework that will last needs firm foundations. Benefits would not materialise if the framework proved short-lived and the necessary transitional costs would be wasted' (Home Office, 2001). Cost aside, the raft of criminal justice legislation since the Criminal Justice Act (1991) suggests that it is in the interests of all stakeholders in the Criminal Justice System to consolidate an integrated multi-agency framework which supports the professional delivery of consistent justice principles and philosophy. It is also in the interests of the equality and consistency of the experience of those who have been or who will be sentenced. Below, we summarise what we think are the key proposals for changes to short prison sentences ('custody plus'), and non-custodial sentences. We then draw attention to some potential pitfalls these may pose for the relationship between probation practitioners and sentencers.

The National Probation Service - Dancing To Its Own Tune?

The National Probation Service - Dancing To Its Own Tune?

Launching the National Probation Service

Launching the National Probation Service

Supporting People ‐ a probation perspective: Acceptance or further marginalisation

The provision of supported housing is vital to the work of the National Probation Service as it seeks to reduce re‐offending and protect the public. Supporting People offers an opportunity for Probation to play a key role in developing supported housing services locally. Probation's experience in contracting for supported housing services for offenders means it is well placed to contribute to the work of the Supporting People team. There remain many issues to be resolved. Only recognition of the legitimacy of offender needs within Supporting People and in wider housing allocation and management policies will make Probation's investment in the process pay off.

The Challenge Ahead For Criminal Justice Social Work In Scotland

James Maybee considers the lessons which Scotland's soon to be re-organised Criminal Justice Social Work Services can learn from the experiences of the National Probation Service in England and Wales. He argues that they must embrace principles of efficiency and effective practice if they wish to retain a central role in service delivery and their links with local authority social work.