Book reviews : The Everlasting Childhood: The Predicament of the Backward Boy R. P. Menday and John Wiles. (Gollancz, 16/-)
| Published date | 01 December 1959 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455055900900409 |
| Date | 01 December 1959 |
| Author | D.A. Haxby |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
know what you are doing and why: and to be able
With specific reference to probation, several important
to find out from the record. Not like some Inspectors
differences between the systems of other nations and the
in other services who want to see you in action.
English system were noted. These. included :-
It won’t be long before the Home Office Selection
l. Probation is given as a suspended sentence, the length
Board won’t accept anyone who hasn’t published a
of the sentence being announced at the time the indi-
novel.
vidual is placed on probation. If it exceeds one year,
SAM Did I really put it like that’? Dear me, that’s what the
then probation cannot be used.
service does for you.
2. The length of the probation order can be from 1 - 5
NOTE : None of the characters above bear any relation-
years, and any kind of condition can be inserted, e.g.
ship to any living person. The whole is copyright but per-
an alcoholic may be told he has to take antabuse.
mission will readily be granted for performance on B.B.C.
3. Probation officers do little supervising of their proba-
or I.T.V. All Royalties payable to the Edridge Fund.
tioners. This is done by &dquo;voluntary workers&dquo; often
from the probationer’s own milieu, who are inter-
viewed, chosen, and guided by the probation officers.
Only if the case becomes difficult will the probation
officer take it over completely. No probation officer
has more than twenty such cases apparently.
Criminology in Denmark
4. Adults alone are placed on probation. Young delin-
quents are dealt with by the Children’s Welfare Depart-
THE NINTH International Course in Criminology was held
ment, and rarelv come before a court.
this year in Copenhagen from October 7th to l7th. There
5. Women probation offices outnumber men, and super-
were approximately forty participants from many nations.
vise male probationers of all ages.
and the sun shone down upon them for the entire time.
6. Consultant psychiatrists pay regular visits to probation
The programme, which included lectures, visits, and
offices (as often as twice a week) to deal with difficult
group discussions, was comprehensive and varied, and
cases.
there was much stress on group psychotherapy. Another
Despite these differences, the English probation system
point emphasised was the...
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