In the push for professional status and independence, and with the expansion of the Probation Service the contemporary probation officer has moved away from a traditional and, perhaps, more effective role and place in the court. This has resulted in a loss of influence which needs attention. There is a crisis of confidence; the courts are unsure of the Probation Service, and the probation officer in unsure of his or her place. The author argues for a positive presence in court to counter this trend.
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References
1.
Barr, C.: Ealing Studios; David and Charles, 1977 .
2.
McWilliams, W.: 'The Probation Officer at Court: From Friend to Acquaintance.' The Howard Journal, Vol XX, 1981.
3.
See for example Hugman, B.: 'Radical Practice in Probation ', Chapter 6 of Brake, M., and Bailey, R.: Radical Social Work and Practice; Edward Arnold 1980 and Chapter 9 of Walker, H., and Beaumont, B.: Probation Work -Critical Theory and Socialist Practice; Basil Blackwell , 1981.
4.
Some interesting ideas on this in Raynor, P.: 'Is there any sense in Social Enquiry Reports?'. Probation Journal. 27. 1980.
