ADVANCED INFO (Topic 6: Effectiveness of the Probation Service)

Question 1

Outline PRIVATISATION as a limitation for the probation service in achieving social control (4 points)

Answer 1

• The passing on of a public service to a private company.
• Conservative governments tend to have a bias towards privatising public services as they feel it will be both better and cheaper.
• Cheaper for the government to give a one off grant to a private company who then takes responsibility for service, than it is for them to run it indefinitely.
• However community rehabilitation programmes (CRCs) have been proven to be ineffective in achieving their goals.

Question 2

Give 3 STATISTICS that link to PRIVATISATION of the probation service in achieving social control

Answer 2

• Privatisation of the probation service has increased since the 2008 crisis.
• According to the 2018 probation service inspection report, 19/21 CRCs were not meeting targets.
• Only 34% of CRC supervised cases has their housing needs met.

Question 3

Outline A LACK OF EXPERTISE as a limitation for the probation service in achieving social control (4 points)

Answer 3

• Due to both budget cuts to the National Probation Service and the increased use of CRCs, there are more and more problems with standards of service from probation officers, with overworking officers compromising their standards.
• CRCs will often hire under qualified people in an effort to save money, as they will request lower salaries leading to negligent practices and mistakes occurring (potentially leading to reoffending).
• Domestic abusers have been released into the community with no supervision, putting prior victims at risk.
• Many CRCs hold probation meetings over the phone rather than face-to-face, meaning that officers and offenders do not develop a rapport. These meetings also take place in open plan offices, which are not provable enough, considering the sensitive issues that may be troubling ex-offenders.

Question 4

Outline IMPROVED RECIDIVISM RATES as a positive for the probation service in achieving social control (4 points)

Answer 4

• Effective due to improved recidivism rates.
• Despite these issues, probation services do appear to offer more rehabilitation opportunities for offenders serving sentences in the community, or those on license.
• This leads to offenders getting help for substance abuse or personality issues (i.e. anger management), helping offenders gain meaningful employment.
• The National Probation Service supports offenders serving sentences in the community.

Question 5

Give one STATISTIC that links to IMPROVED RECIDIVISM RATES of the probation service in achieving social control

Answer 5

The National Probation Service has around 50% lower recidivism rates than prison.