Probation

This book provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to probation. It brings together themes of policy, theory and practice to help students and practitioners better understand the work of probation, its limitations, its potential, but above all its value.

Setting probation in the context of the criminal justice system, the book explores its history, purposes and contemporary significance. It explains what probation is and the practical realities of working with offenders in the community. The book also covers the governance of probation and how policy and practice are responding to contemporary concerns about crime and community safety.

This book encourages readers to appreciate the practical and theoretical strengths and shortcomings of contemporary probation practice. This revised and updated new edition includes a full description and discussion of recent reforms in the probation service and the Transforming Rehabilitation policy agenda. It also offers further discussion of international perspectives on probation, including international developments and collaborative efforts between countries.

This book is essential reading for trainee probation officers and students taking courses on probation, offender management, treatment and rehabilitation, working with offenders and community justice.

Rob Canton is a former probation officer, who now teaches and researches at De Montfort University, Leicester. He has worked extensively with the Council of Europe and the EU to develop penal practices in several countries and contributed to framing the European Probation Rules and the European Rules on Community Sanctions and Measures. He also acted as Specialist Adviser to the House of Commons Justice Select Committee during their inquiry into the role of the probation service.

Jane Dominey worked as a probation officer in a variety of settings before moving into higher education as a lecturer and programme leader in probation studies. She completed her PhD in 2015, researching the experience of probation supervision in the context of the increased use of voluntary sector organisations and private companies to deliver probation services. Probation practice, supervision in the community, and service user perspectives remain her key research interests.