NCJ Number
137892
Journal
Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 31 Issue: 2 Dated: (May 1992) Pages: 120-132
Date Published
1992
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Data obtained from interviews with probation committee members and chief probation officers are used to describe the role of the probation committee in the Great Britain. Probation committees are the statutory employers of all probation staff and are responsible for the efficient operation of area probation services.
Abstract
The authors argue that the Home Office and professional probation associations have neglected the potential role of probation committee members despite their attempts to develop notions of systematic management. Probation committee members were asked about crime prevention and race issues, two areas of contemporary importance. The survey findings indicated that probation committee members had not been proactive when considering the initiation of crime prevention policy and had not required their chief officer to develop specific policies. The assumptions made by lay magistrates that probation committee work should not encompass crime prevention has diminished its feasibility within area services. Similarly, the perspective of lay magistrates regarding race suggests that area probation committees may have delayed and restricted the development of race issues policy. 10 notes and 34 references (Author abstract modified)