NCJ Number
177073
Journal
Child Abuse Review Volume: 7 Issue: 6 Dated: November/December 1998 Pages: 391-401
Date Published
1998
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This article summarizes some of the key findings of an inspection report (HM Inspectorate of Probation, 1998) on the work of the probation service in England and Wales with sex offenders.
Abstract
The inspection was conducted at a time of unprecedented public debate and concern about the nature and impact of sexual offending, but this focused attention on a few high-profile individuals rather than the majority of sex offenders who assaulted victims that were known to them. For the purposes of the inspection, 10 probation areas were visited at the beginning of 1997; a similar inspection program was followed in each area. It consisted of observation of group work, examination of over 300 presentence court reports, analysis of a similar number of case files on offenders subject to supervision on probation orders and following release from prison, and interviews with probation staff and representatives from a variety of other agencies. Evidence from the inspection shows that probation services were successfully developing their assessment and supervision of sexual offenders in response to the increasing expectations of government and the general public. The core purpose of the work was to protect the public. Probation staff were clear that issues such as confidentiality and assisting the offender to live a more stable life were subservient to this core purpose. The inspection report contains 10 recommendations designed to advance probation work with sex offenders. 2 references