Serious Further Offences on Probation and a Culture of Fear

• In Event: Professional cultures in community sanctions and measures

Abstract

Probation Services in England and Wales have come under the political and media spotlight in recent years following a number of high profile ‘Serious Further Offences’ (SFOs) committed by people under probation supervision. When such incidences occur, they are subject to review. Ordinarily these reviews are conducted internally, but in some more high profile cases they are conducted by the Probation Inspectorate and the reports are made publicly available. In a profession which otherwise has limited public visibility, SFOs, which are relatively exceptional occurrences, become the prism through which probation is viewed. This has implications for probation practice. Drawing on interviews with practitioners and senior probation leaders conducted as part of the Rehabilitating Probation study, this presentation explores the manner in which the treatment of SFOs have further eroded professional confidence, contributed to a culture of fear and a defensive approach to practice.

Authors

• Nicola Carr, Trinity College Dublin

• Harry Annison, University of Southampton

• Matthew Millings, Liverpool John Moores University

• Gwen Robinson, University of Sheffield, UK.