Suchergebnisse

This article describes and analyses the involvement of the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) with the Probation Service since 2001 when first complaints, and latterly the deaths of hostel residents, have come within its remit. The Ombudsman's office now has two operational arms — one investigating complaints, and the other investigating fatal incidents — each with around 30 investigators. So far as probation is concerned, the fatal incidents remit only embraces the residents of approved premises, although it is possible for complaints to be made about other deaths of those subject to supervision.

New law and order legislation has a patchy record so far as crime reduction is concerned. Can economic analyses help decide between competing policies? Taking the current Crime (Sentences) Bill as an example, the author argues that as a first step new legislative proposals should be subject to more intensive fiscal examination.

Recent expansion in the conventional work-load of the Probation Service has not removed the basic empirical and theoretical objections to present probation practice. However, there are few signs of the Service embracing crime prevention as its central objective. Crime prevention and community work are vague and problematic concepts. However, they do presuppose a 'bias towards the poor' which has characterised the Probation Service's traditional concerns.