AC3.4 The effectiveness of the NPS in achieving social control

Question 1

What are strengths of the probation service in achieving social control?

Answer 1

Rehabilitation = supports offenders and supervises them while in society
–> Recidivism rates in offedners halved through probation service. Double in prisons

£200billion given to other agencies to work with the NPS

Probation form of external social control to persuade members of society to conform to rules

Individual Deterrence + General Deterrence = continued threat of custody + conditions of orders given by probation service

Monitoring and support of offenders through drug treatment (53% lower recidivism rates than tthose that do not complete the order 91%)

Question 2

What are the weaknesses of the probation service in achieving social control?

Answer 2

19/21 CRCs did not meet target –> 1 phone call every six weeks

Shortage of probation officers = probation officers 50-100 cases each, senior officers up to 900 (overworked) = offenders go unsupervised

138 people killed by offenders under the supervision of the NPS

Offenders’ housing needs were met less often: only 54% of cases supervised by CRCS, compared with 70% of NPS-supervised cases

Question 3

What does recidivism mean?

Answer 3

To re offend - become deviant again.

Question 4

What is a CRC

Answer 4

Community Rehabilitation companies