Changes in the Role of Justice Social Workers in Italy: Questions of Control, Assistance and Officers' Training
| Author | Daniela Ronco |
| Pages | 47-62 |
47
CHANGES IN THE ROLE OF JUSTICE SOCIAL WOR KERS IN ITA LY:
QUESTIONS OF CONTROL, ASSISTANCE AND OFFICERS'
TRAINING
Daniela Ronco PhD, Research associate, Law Department at the University of Torino
Abstract
This paper aims at analysing the evolution of the enforcement of non-custodial sentences
in Italy. In 1975, a new role was introduced, that of the justice social worker, with the duty
of supervising the so-called “non-custodial measures”.
In Italy, the available studies on the topic are rather limited in number, whereas in the
United Kingdo m there has been a rich production , in terms of both theoretical reflectio n
and empirical research. This is why several of the remarks p ut forth in this paper stem from
a comparison between the two systems, as well as from an exploratory qualitative analysis
carried out by means of semi-structured interviews proposed to individua ls working in the
enforcement of non-custod ial sentences in both countries, i.e. experts in the officers'
training.
The objective o f this research is to investigate the ambivalence of the role of ju stice social
workers, deriving from the coexistence of assistance and control. Starting from the model
presented by Bondeson (1994), the evolution of the Italian system for the enforcement of
non-custodial sentences will be described through the control-assistance dichotomy and
focusing on training, a variable that deeply influences the plac ement of justice social
workers along the control-assistance continuum.
Key words: community justice, justice social workers, probation, Italian penitentiary
system, social work
British Journal of Community Justice
©2013 Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield
ISSN 1475-0279
Vol. 11(1):47-62
Ronco
48
Methodology
The study employed a qualitative research method, using exploratory interviews to a
sample of individuals experienced in the probation officers' training field. The sa mple
includes 10 interviews with trainers/experts working in the probation field in the United
Kingdom (in particular in England, at the De Montfort University, Leicester) and 18
interviews with operators working in the field of non-custodial sanctions and involved in
training activities in Italy (at the Higher Institute for Penitentiary Studies, at the Prison
Administration Departm ent, as well as at the Regional Prison Administratio n Directorate
and at the Office for the Enforcement of Non-Custodial Measures of Turin). The general
purpose was to compare the Italian and the English ways to fulfil the officers' training and
their evolutions, with relation to the more general changes in the alternative to prison
values and policies.
The probation officer’s role between assistance and control
In general, the potentially conflicted natu re of the probation officer’s role is linked to the
fact that their position forces them to owe a double set of loyalties, to the society and to
the users, often guided by interests that are in conflict with each other. In general terms,
we can say that a greater focus on th e element of support seems to indicate the operators’
prevailing intention to protect the users’ interests, while a greater focus on the element of
control seems to indicate that the operators wish to protect the interests of society.
Depending on how much importance is given to each of the two elements, we can identify
some ideal types of supervision, as shown in Table 1, borrowed from Bondeson (1994:
108).
Emphasis on Control
Low
High
Emphasis on
Assistance
High
Welfare
Paternal
Low
Passive
Punitive
Table 1. Types of Supervisors by Emphasis on Assistance or Control (Bondeson, 1994: 108)
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