NCJ Number
86666
Date Published
1981
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This essay outlines the provisions of South Australia's Offenders Probation Act, which specifies the structure and operations of the Probation and Parole Branch.
Abstract
The act gives all levels of the court the power to release an offender, with or without conviction, on a recognizance with the condition of good behavior for a period specified by the court not to exceed 3 years. The courts are empowered to give a sentence of imprisonment but suspend the sentence upon the offender's entering into recognizance under the act. Although not specifically described in the legislation, legal precedent enables courts to obtain such information as is needed to assist in determining an appropriate sentence. This involves the preparing of presentence reports by probation officers. Probation officers are assigned the dual role of providing social control and social work support. Supervision supports are specified as mental health services, alcohol and drug treatment, and offender aid and rehabilitation services. The act further indicates the sentences for which parole is allowed, the composition and structure of the parole board, parole application procedures, parole board decision alternatives, and release procedures. Further, the legislation lays down certain qualifying provisions for first and subsequent parole applications. Requirements are also indicated for parolee supervision, parole violations, and prison supervision for long-term inmates. The structure of the Probation and Parole Branch is described, followed by the presentation of tabular data on the number of clients under supervision for 1970-80 and the number of Branch staff for 1979-80. The essay provides supplementary information on staff development, probation programs, offender assessment, and client advocacy in a maximum security institution.