probation Flashcards
(6 cards)
what is the first strength of probation?
One strength of the NPS in achieving social control is that it works effectively with other agencies such as the CPS and Courts to protect the public. For instance they provide professional, objective and relevant information that enables the judge to consider the appropriate sentencing option through the pre-sentence reports. Such information ensures that probation is only considered for those offenders who can be safely monitored in the community and who are less likely to reoffend are sentenced to probation to ensure that social control is maintained.
what is the 2nd strength of probation?
Another strength of the NPS is that they help to tackle the cause of offending and rehabilitate offenders back into the community. For example, they work with offenders through treatment programmes such as drug treatment programmes, anger management, CBT and supervising unpaid work. By helping offenders tackle the cause of their criminal behaviour will reduce reoffending and therefore help to achieve an increased level of social control.
what is the 3rd strength of probation?
A further strength is that probation is seen as more effective in reducing reoffending. For example, probation recidivism is much lower than prison recidivism. In Jan - March 2020 the overall reoffending rate for offenders managed by the NPS was 34.1% representing a 3.4% decrease compared to 2015. However reoffending from prison is much higher - nearly half of adults (42 %) are reconvicted of another offence within one year of release and this is higher for those given a sentence of less than 12 months at 63%. Therefore this suggests that probation is more effective in reducing recidivism and ensuring social control in society.
what is the first limitation of probation?
A limitation of the probation service is that there have been too many cases in which prisons’ risk to the public was not adequately assessed before release. For example, Joanna Dennehy was under the supervision of probation workers when she murdered 3 men in 2013 and David Bradden whilst on probation with a CRC murdered by beating to death 18 year old Coonor Marshall in 2015. Therefore, such cases highlight that probation is not effective in achieving social control as offenders, especially those of high risk should be monitored to ensure that they do not reoffend and furthermore, should be monitored to ensure public protection.
what is the 2nd limitation of probation?
One limitation of probation is that there is a shortage of places on specialist programmes to address the causes of offending. A 2021 report highlighted a lack of monitoring of those offenders on drug rehabilitation programmes with very few being tested for drug use - just 1 in 6 of the inspected sample of known users. Probation services were unable to tell inspectors how many Class A drug users were on their caseload or how many were in treatment. Without careful monitoring and support to deal with addiction many offenders may continue to reoffend and as a result probation is not effective in achieving social control as the root cause of offending is not being tackled or punished.
what is the 3rd limitation of probation?
A further limitation of the NPS is that the government’s attempts to part privatise lead to an ineffective service with staff too focused on paperwork and targets at the expense of prisoners. 19/21 CRCs failed to meet their targets of rehabilitating offenders with some offenders being supervised by telephone only and providing inadequate protection for victims when domestic abusers were returned to the community. Furthermore, probation officers in the CRC’s were carrying higher caseloads than those in the public sector, because the companies were cutting staff to save money. The evidence from the most current and up to date official reports strongly indicate a failure by the CRC’s to achieve social control of offenders. This failure also undermines the objective of keeping the community safe for example where domestic abusers are returned to the community without adequate supervision. As a result of such failing the government decided to terminate the CRC’s contracts.