Book Reviews : The Delinquent Solution
| Published date | 01 June 1967 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455056701300211 |
| Date | 01 June 1967 |
| Author | E.E. Sainsbury |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
provided. The Home Office exists partly
changes which will ensure an inward flow
to protect itself (and its ministers) from
to the probation service. The working
criticism and the decay of an institution
party does not think it practicable to im-
can be measured by the emphasis it puts
port, in senior positions, personnel who
on this
self protective work, at the
have not had direct experience in pro-
expense of pursuing its original primary
bation.
This stand is indicative of the
task. In this context some of the current
ambivalence towards the continuing in-
practises are explicable if inexcusable.
dependence (and isolation?) of the proba-
The Home Office exercises social control
tion service and has little to do with the
by diffusion of responsibility (internally)
real needs of the organisation and those
and concealment (in relation to its en-
whom it seeks to help.
If casework
vironment)
and this contrasts
services of greater complexity can recruit
...
starkly
with the way in which the probation
and use successfully, in senior positions,
service exercises social control (both in-
those who have had experience only in
ternally and externally) by working to-
probation it is nonsense to suggest that
wards freedom of communication and
successful exchange could not take place
the development of individual responsi-
in the other direction. At least it is non-
bility. Because of these differences, mis-
sense to suggest it without producing
understandings arise in critical areas of
evidence or a reasoned statement about
human relations in which the whole
the difference between the two sets of cir-
service has a direct interest. The working
cumstances.
The working party could
party does not discuss the underlying
have studied the problems of change but
problems but makes practical proposals
instead chose to resist it.
for a new set of procedures which could
Seniority in the Probation Service is an
work if probation officers
honest
were inspected
attempt to propose solutions to
triennially and if PPO’s made annual
certain management problems, but un-
evaluations of all members of staff (why
fortunately, on wider...
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