NCJ Number
57312
Journal
Justice of the Peace Volume: 140 Issue: 6 Dated: (FEBRUARY 7, 1976) Pages: 71-74
Date Published
1976
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A PROBATION OFFICER, A MAGISTRATE, AND A JUSTICES' CLERK REVIEW THE PAST AND FUTURE OF THE BRITISH CASE COMMITTEE, A BODY OF MAGISTRATES IN EACH DIVISION ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED TO SUPERVISE PROBATION OFFICERS.
Abstract
CASE COMMITTEES WERE ESTABLISHED IN ENGLAND THROUGH THE 1948 CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT. THE 1949 PROBATION RULES INDICATE THE DUTIES OF CASE COMMITTEES TO INCLUDE REVIEWING THE WORK OF PROBATION OFFICERS IN INDIVIDUAL CASES, SUPERVISING THE WORK AND RECORDS OF PROBATION OFFICERS, CONSIDERING WRITTEN OR ORAL REPORTS FROM EACH PROBATION OFFICER, ADVISING AND HELPING PROBATION OFFICERS IN THE CONDUCT OF THEIR DUTIES, AND CONSIDERING EVERY COMPLAINT AGAINST A PROBATION OFFICER RELATING TO HIS FITNESS FOR OFFICE. CASE COMMITTEES ARE COMPOSED OF MAGISTRATES, WITHOUT REPRESENTATION FROM THE PROBATION SERVICE. A MEMORANDUM OF GUIDANCE ON THE FUNCTION OF CASE COMMITTEES WAS RECENTLY ISSUED BY THE HOME OFFICE IN AN EFFORT TO UPDATE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE CASE COMMITTEE. IT URGED A BROADER CONCEPTION OF THE CASE COMMITTEE AS A BODY REVIEWING THE FUNCTIONING OF THE PROBATION AND AFTERCARE SERVICE IN THE LOCAL AREA, AND IT VIEWS THE CASE COMMITTEE AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR STRENGTHENING AND ENRICHING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MAGISTRATES, THE CO-OPTED MEMBERS OF CASE COMMITTEES, AND THE PROBATION SERVICE. THE PROBATION OFFICER, IN REVIEWING THE FUNCTIONING OF THE CASE COMMITTEE, BELIEVES IT TO BE UNQUALIFIED, INEPT, AND PATRONIZING IN ITS EFFORTS TO SUPERVISE THE PROBATION SERVICE, SINCE MAGISTRATES HAVE HAD LITTLE TRAINING THAT WOULD QUALIFY THEM TO REVIEW THE WORK OF ANOTHER PROFESSION WITH SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL. THE PROBATION OFFICER RECOMMENDS THE ABOLISHMENT OF CASE COMMITTEES, TO BE REPLACED BY LIAISON COMMITTEES THAT WOULD FACILITATE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE MAGISTRACY AND THE PROBATION SERVICE IN APPROPRIATE AREAS. THE MAGISTRATE WHOSE COMMENTS ARE INCLUDED FAVORS THE CONTINUATION OF CASE COMMITTEES, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE REVIEW OF INDIVIDUAL CASES. THE JUSTICES' CLERK WHOSE CRITIQUE OF CASE COMMITTEES IS INCLUDED CONSIDERS CASE COMMITTEES UNNECESSARY AND FREQUENTLY DEBILITATING TO THE WORK OF PROBATION OFFICERS AND RECOMMENDS THEIR ABOLISHMENT. (RCB)