Case-Work in a Local Prison
| Published date | 01 September 1966 |
| Author | A.R. Stanley |
| Date | 01 September 1966 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455056601200303 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
intuition&dquo;, however well founded these interpretations may be, they will tcnd
to be suspect. This is particularly true when one can so easily find a
’
colleague
°
who will interpret the same facts differently.
Even if it does no more than make the oflicers look critically at themselves
and their work, research will surely be worthwhile, particularly now that their
role is changing. This is a difficult period of transition and fluidity, so that within
the probation service the organisational problems may make one lose sight of
the more fundamental treatment problems-if probation is a &dquo;helping service&dquo;
is it helping in the best possible way?
,
CASE-WORK IN A LOCAL PRISON
A. R. Stanley
Probation Officer, Prison Welfare Service, Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM PRISON has between 700 and 900 inmates, of which by far the
majority are in for a period of less than six months. The turnover is in the
region of 30 to 40 per day. This includes sentences for criminal offences passed
at Magistrates’ Courts, Quarter Session and Assizes: Y.P.s (there is still a
considerable overflow from Brockhill Remand Centre), Civil Prisoners, Remands,
Commitals awaiting sentence or trial, and arrivals from and departures to other
prisons. There is virtually no recognisable individualised training function and
those who are there for longer periods are usually awaiting admission to a
Training or Central Prison. It is in this situation that I discuss case-work by the
probation and after-care service inside prison (referred to hereafter as the
prison welfare department).
I feel sure that three probation and after-care offices (the present establish-
ment) can hope to attempt only a small part of the work that could, and possibly
should, be done. I use the word &dquo;possibly&dquo; advisedly. There has been a significant
growth of interest over recent years in prison welfare on the part of prison
officers and in the Governor grades, and there is consequently a growing
potential that...
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