Probation: ‘A deceptive substitute for real contact’?

Abstract

In a critical and challenging personal reflection on recent developments in criminal justice, the author, a long-term prisoner, argues that the prisoner’s ‘voice’ has been subjugated with the dominance of risk- and control-based polices and practice, and accuses the probation service of being complicit in this process.

Keywords

actuarialism offender management prisoner perspective responsibilization

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bromley Briefings (2009). London: Prison Reform Trust.

Bryans, S. ( 2000) ‘The Managerialisation of Prisons - Efficiency without a Purpose?’, Criminal Justice Matters 40(1): 7-8.

Burke, L. and S. Collett ( 2008) ‘Doing with or Doing to - What Now for the Probation Service?’, Criminal Justice Matters 72(1): 9-11.

Digard, L. (2010) ‘ When Legitimacy is Denied: Offender Perceptions of the Prison Recall System’, Probation Journal 57(1):43-61.

Duncan, A. ( 2010) Inside Time, March.

Edwards, D. and J. Potter ( 1992) Discursive Psychology. London: SAGE.

Feeley, M. and J. Simon ( 1992) ‘The New Penology’, Criminology 30(4): 452-474; also in McLaughlin et a1. (2003): 434.

Fitzgibbon, W. ( 2009) ‘The Conveyor Belt of Criminal Justice: The Sonnex Case, Risk and De-skilling in Probation’, Criminal Justice Matters 78(1): 6-7.

Friendship, C. , R. Mann and A. Beech ( 2003) Prison-based Sex Offender Treatment: An Evaluation, Home Office Findings 205. London: Home Office.

10.

Garland, D. ( 2001) The Culture of Control. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

11.

Gianquitto, L. ( 2010) ‘OASys: A Highly Subjective Assessment’, Inside Time, April.

12.

Goldson, B. ( 2006) ‘What Works’ in McLaughlin, E. and J. Muncie Dictionary of Criminology. London: SAGE.

13.

Greenwood, P. ( 2003) ‘Selective Incapacitation’, in McLaughlin, E. J. Muncie and G. Hughes (eds) Criminological Perspectives. London: SAGE.

14.

Hanson, C. ( 2009a) ‘Probation Officers - Friend or Foe’, Inside Time, February: 27.

15.

Hanson, C. ( 2009b) ‘Dehumanising Process of Risk Assessment’ , Inside Time, December.

16.

HM Inspectorate of Prisons (2005) Recalled Prisoners. London: HM Inspectorate of Prisons.

17.

Hoggett, P. ( 2000) ‘Social Policy and the Emotions’, in G. Lewis , S. Gewirtz and J. Clarke (eds), Rethinking Social Policy. London: SAGE Publications.

18.

Hollway, W. and T. Jefferson ( 1997a) ‘The Risk Society in an Age of Anxiety: Situation Fear of Crime. Eliciting Narrative through the In-depth Interview’, Qualitative Enquiry 3(1): 53-70.

19.

McLaughlin, E. and J. Muncie ( 2001) The Sage Dictionary of Criminology. London: SAGE.

20.

McLaughlin, E. , J. Muncie and G. Hughes ( 2003) Criminologcal Perspectives. London : SAGE.

21.

Mann, M. ( 2009) ‘NOMS Reforms’, Inside Time , August 24.

22.

Martinson, R.L. ( 1974) ‘‘‘What Works?’’ Questions and Answers about Prison Reform’. The Pubic Interest 35: 25-54.

23.

Matravers, A. ( 2003) Sex Offenders in the Community. Cullompton : Willan Publishing.

24.

Ministry of Justice (2009) Story of the Prison Population 1995-2009: England and Wales. London: Ministry of Justice.

25.

Ministry of Justice (2009) Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2008. London: The Stationery Office.

26.

Muncie, J. ( 2000) ‘Decriminalising Social Policy’ in G. Lewis , S. Gewirtz and J. Clarke (eds), Rethinking Social Policy. London: SAGE Publications.

27.

Naughton, M. ( 2009) ‘Does the / to Burst for Prisoners Who May be Innocent to Make Progress?’, The Howard Journal 48(4): 357-372.

28.

NOMS Recall. Newsletter edition 7, annex A.

29.

Oldfield M. and R. Grimshaw ( 2008) ‘The Probation Spending Crisis’, Criminal Justice Matters 73(1): 40-42.

30.

O’Malley, P. ( 1998) Crime and the Risk Society. Aldershot : Dartmouth Publishing.

31.

Pitts, J. ( 1992) ‘The End of an Era’, Howard Journal of Criminology 31(2): 133-149.

32.

Roberts, J. ( 2010) ‘Grave Concerns over OASys Assessment’, Inside Time, April.

33.

Rose, K. ( 2010) Inside Time, April.

34.

Sadoff, R.L. , H.A. Roethers and J. Peters ( 1971) ‘Clinical Measure of Enforced Group Psychotherapy’ , American Journal of Psychiatry 128: 224-227.

35.

Seto, M. ( 2003) ‘Interpreting the Treatment Performance of Sex Offenders’ , in A. Matravers (ed.) Sex Offenders in the Community. Cullompton: Willan Publishing.

36.

Simon, J. ( 1987) ‘The Emergence of the Risk Society’, Socialist Register 95: 61-89.

37.

Skinns, L. ( 2008) ‘The Contours of the Police Custody Process: Governance and Accountability in a Post-PACE World’, Criminal Justice Matters 71: 22-23.