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Mike Guilfoyle argues that building trusting relationships with service users in probation takes time, effort, commitment and a shared belief in the change process
Former probation officer Mike Guilfoyle draws on the example of one of his former clients to discuss the role of courts in the regular review of community sentences as they unfold.
Former probation officer Mike Guilfoyle writes about the importance of offering emotional support to probation service clients.
Professor Paul Senior of the Hallam Centre for Community Justice and Sheffield Hallam University argues that the Transforming Rehabilitation agenda is risky, misguided and evidence free.
Richard Garside examines the thinking behind the launch of the competition for probation contracts in England and Wales.
Richard Garside reviews the government's Transforming Rehabilitation proposals and poses five questions 'in the spirit of inquiry'.
This initial assessment of criminal justice resources, staffing and workloads was carried out during October and November 2008 by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies for a group of professional bodies and trade unions representing those who work in the criminal justice system.
Engaging communities with the criminal justice system can be achieved by providing the public with clear information about sentencing.
We evaluated the successful pilot of the 'Local crime/community sentence' project run by the Probation Boards Association and the Magistrates' Association, and we are advising the project team as it is rolled out nationally. The project aims to raise public awareness about the importance of community sentences and through increased understanding, to improve public confidence in such sentences.
Community Sentences Digest highlights that in 2007, 162,648 people started court orders in the community, the highest ever recorded number. It represents a 36 per cent increase in the decade since 1997. The orders include both community sentences and Suspended Sentence Orders.
Spending on the prison and probation system in England and Wales has grown by 36 per cent in real terms since 2004 despite a major reorganisation that was meant to save money, a report from the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies has found. Prison and probation expenditure 1999 - 2009 found that spending on the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) - which combines the costs of operating the prison, probation and headquarters function - rose in real terms from £3.6 billion in 2004/2005 to £4.9 billion in 2008/2009.
