1 - The Probation Service

Question 1

From the mid – 1980’s onwards, probation services gradually changed…

Answer 1

From the mid – 1980’s onwards, probation services gradually changed
from being almost independent social work agencies who worked to advise, assist and befriend offenders who were referred to them by the courts to services which worked to nationally agreed policies and standards in the supervision of offenders in the community.

Question 2

The Probation Service is responsible for…

Answer 2

The Probation Service is responsible for preparing pre-sentence reports for courts, supervising community orders and helping prisoners adapt to community life following release.

Question 3

NOMS…

Answer 3

With Probation, Prison constitutes the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) who have the responsibility for managing offenders from sentence to resettlement in the community.

Question 4

The Probation Service is undergoing plans for reform…

Answer 4

The Probation Service is undergoing plans for reform.As part of its ‘rehabilitation revolution’ the Government is tendering out the supervision of all medium and low-risk offenders on a payment-by-results basis.