NCJ Number
220114
Journal
Criminology & Criminal Justice Volume: 7 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2007 Pages: 223-242
Date Published
2007
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This article sets out to examine how consumer society has impacted the probation system.
Abstract
The article finds that rehabilitation has survived the advent of the consumer society but it is occasionally impacted. Consumer society does play a role in rehabilitation in regards to reducing re-offending and thereby delivering public protection. However, over-selling the promise of public protection poses serious risks for offender management services because it creates a situation that drives up consumer demand for more controlling and incapacitating measures. The balance that probation services have historically tried to maintain, as ‘mediating institutions,’ between offenders’ needs, rights, and interests and the wider public’s needs, rights, and interests, seems in serious danger of being lost in this process. This article looks at the impact of the privatization and commercialization of state services, specifically probation and offender management services in the United Kingdom. The author looked at Zygmunt Bauman’s analysis of crime and punishment in society which asks the questions (1) what is probation selling and (2) who is buying probation? In addition to Bauman’s analyses, debates that existed regarding commodification of public services were reviewed. Limitations of the study are discussed. Notes, and references