Developing Probation Practice

Abstract

In this concluding section we examine some issues that run through the preceding chapters and then outline some positive potential for developing practice. We begin with the problems for probation officers posed by the ‘new right’ doctrines outlined in Chapter 1. Every contributor has identified areas in which government policies have a direct impact on their work. The most obvious effects are the falling living standards and diminishing opportunities of clients. Supervision of probationers, helping those released from prison and extending the prospects for women in the community are all severely limited by the material impact of cuts in public spending. Probation work is made more difficult if there is little hope of improving, even marginally, clients’ situations. It is harder to identify positives in social enquiry and parole reports when prospects are so limited. However, Chapter 6 identified campaigning as an important activity which can both expose the real hardships currently experienced by clients, and contribute to the struggle for improvements.