Comment
| Date | 01 March 1972 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455057201800101 |
| Published date | 01 March 1972 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
1 1 Vol 18 No 1 March 1972
Journal of the National Association of Probation Officers - 20p
Edited by Leslie Herbert, MBE, MA
COMMENT
Criminal Justice Bill
IT is welcome news that Mr Mark Carlisle has promised to introduce an
amendment at the Report Stage to limit the use of supervision orders with
suspended sentences to the higher courts. As the Bill originally stood there
was some danger the Magistrates’ Courts might take advantage of the ability
to pass consecutive sentences totalling more than six months, to make super-
vision orders, but this will not now be possible-at least not initially.
It would be undesirable to use the new power too freely until there has been
time to assess its effectiveness, and it is best that it should be regarded at first
as something of an experiment.
If success is to be achieved it is essential that there should be stricter regard
to the intention that the courts should first decide that in all the circumstances
a sentence of imprisonment is unavoidable, and only then proceed to suspend
it. Otherwise suspended sentences plus supervision will all too easily be imposed
where probation orders would be appropriate.
Taken as a whole the Bill represents a positive step in the right direction
and it is obviously sensible that Community Service orders and Day Treatment
Centres should be tried out experimently before being generally used.
Naturally the Service is still preoccupied with the problem of increasing
manpower quickly enough to cope with present and future tasks. It must con-
tinue to focus attention upon it. The road to hell is paved with good intentions,
and the undoubtedly good intentions behind this Bill will only lead to the
desired results if enough resources are made available for the new tasks falling
upon the Probation Service to be tackled enthusiastically and done well.
House of Commons Expenditure Committee
WHEN a House of Commons &dquo;watch-dog&dquo; Committee on expenditure says that
too little rather than...
To continue reading
Request your trial