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2007 marks the centenary of the probation service in England and Wales.
Here are some key facts and events which have shaped the organisation over the past 100 years...
Pre-1900s
- The London Police Court Mission was the forerunner of the Probation Service;
- In the beginning we reclaimed drunkards, then other offenders, keeping them in touch with the missionary and giving guidance;
- Crimes have changed over time due to society's technological advances such as the motor car, drugs and now the internet.
Probation exists for appropriate punishment which can rehabilitate offenders for a safer public.
1907
- Probation Service is established and the first Probation Officers are established under the Probation of Offenders Act 1907, which allows courts to assist and advise offenders towards rehabilitation;
- The Probation of Offenders Act created the possibility of transforming pleas for mercy into routine consideration of suitability for probation;
- Supervision was given a statutory basis which allowed courts to appoint and employ probation officers;
- Probation Officers were then empowered to work with offenders to advise, assist and befriend those placed under supervision by courts;
- By this system the offender was not sent to prison but had to report to police on a weekly basis and see a probation officer. This measure, along with a longer period to pay fines in 1914, succeeded in halving the prison population between 1910 and 1930.
1919
- Probation work started to be seen as something for which people were trained to enter rather than called to follow. Probation Officers began to press for training.
1920s
- Appointing a Probation Officer becomes a requirement of the Court.
1930s
- napo ( National Association of Probation Officers) produce first ever handbook of 'Probation and Social Work of the Courts'. Probation Inspectorate established within the Home Office. Work initially comprised of inspecting Probation Areas and training / confirming Probation Officers. A number of regional offices were set up across the country.
1936
- Probation Committee recommend probation should remain a locally controlled service, and Home Office should play a greater part in its organisation and direction.
1970s
- Community Service Orders are seen as the new non-custodial penalty.
1990s
- The number of employed Probation Officers peaks at 7,800.
2000
- Criminal Justice and Court Services Act created the National Probation Service as an agency of the Home Office.
2001
- National Probation Service created. 54 probation areas are reduced to 42 to achieve co-terminosity with other Criminal Justice Agencies. The service operates under a National Directorate who are directly accountable to the Home Office;
- Probation Committees become Probation Boards with members appointed and paid by the Home Secretary. Chief Officers become statutory office holders and members of the board, although not employed by them;
- Probation Boards' Association succeeded Central Probation Council as national employers of Probation;
- MAPPA (Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements) established. This is a collaboration of agencies - including Health, Youth Offending services, Education and Social Services, joining with Probation, Police and Prison to identify and manage potentially dangerous people in the community.
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) was created in 2004. NOMS is the system through which the highest quality correctional services and interventions are commissioned and provided to protect the public and reduce re-offending.
NOMS bridges the divide between custody and community and is assisted by developments in technology. By 2010 NOMS aims to have made a significant reduction in re-offending rates by introducing end-to-end offender management.
A new comprehensive information management database, known as C-NOMIS is being introduced which directly supports all stages of offender management. Through C-NOMIS and increased communication throughout the criminal justice system NOMS will help to deliver punishments and reparation and co-ordinate rehabilitative, health, educational, employment and housing opportunities for offenders to reduce re-offending.
The National Association of Probation Officers (napo) & Probation Boards Association (PBA) centenary website:
www.probationcentenary.org
The Sheffield Hallam University's Hallam Centre for Community Justice website:
www.centuryofprobation.com
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