A Counterblast to Walker & Beaumont Dear Sir
| Author | G.E. Samson |
| Date | 01 March 1982 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455058202900118 |
| Published date | 01 March 1982 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
whole article has that very flavour of
officers would answer these questions
&dquo;knowing best&dquo;, to the extent that all
very differently. Yes, some of us (Them?)
probation officers are, apparently, un-
who are inflexibly hidebound by political
arguably precluded from &dquo;recommending
generalisations may well insist that ideo-
custody&dquo; or &dquo;administering penal sanc-
logical dogma always supercedes the
tions in the community&dquo;. I can think of
need of individual clients. Others per-
at least two types of case which I have
haps conditioned by exclusive theories
recommended custody (to save life -
of psychopathology, may contend that
extreme addicts, and frail dossers in
all clients are by definition ’sick’ and
winter); and any sanctions, of course,
that sociological realities are irrelevant.
would be felt &dquo;penal&dquo; by some clients.
Both extremes of view are equally
The whole article was pro-client and
narrow and nonsensical, but their respec-
&dquo;nothing-more-to-be-said&dquo;.
tive adherents would maintain that their
Secondly, the NASPO affair, where I
own values represent absolute truth.
heartily agree with Mr Whidby’s letter
When we talk about controlling other
in Dec 1981 Newsletter. To take action
people, is it perhaps the operator of
against NASPO members (or such as
such control rather than the recipient
can be identified) on grounds that they
who sees it as intolerable? Most of us
&dquo;may be guilty of conduct ...&dquo; is a
have come across colleagues who are
principle unknown to English law, and
reluctant to exercise control because it
totally objectionable.
makes them feel uncomfortable, and who
More to the point, the catch-all phrase
appear unable to acknowledge that some
&dquo;prejudicing interests of NAPO&dquo; could
clients are crying out for someone to
easily be used to expel anyone who
care enough to provide them with the
merely criticised NAPO-such as hap-
external behavioural constraints which,
pens...
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