Contemporary probation practice: Some reflections on social class
| Published date | 01 March 2024 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/02645505231213976 |
| Author | David Coley |
| Date | 01 March 2024 |
Contemporary
probation practice:
Some reflections on
social class
David Coley
Independent Probation Researcher, Brighton, UK
Abstract
The role that social class plays within the desistance journeys of individuals on proba-
tion is largely unexplored. This lack of understanding is acknowledged as a limitation
within theorising around desistance processes. It also prompts questions as to the
awareness of class and classism issues amongst probation staff and their practice
approaches within this difficult area of professional application. This reflective
paper offers some discussion areas in which probation staff can collectively consider
their experiences within this field, as well as those under their supervision. It is sug-
gested that this topic requires greater attention amongst all involved in providing pro-
bation services.
Keywords
Class, desistance, probation, practice, reflective
Introduction
Working on a daily basis within the all-pervasive, involved and slippery dynamics of
social class can be difficult and come at some personal and professional cost. This
discussion primer outlines some of the reflective practice questions involved in
addressing class dynamics within probation services. For probation practitioners
the organisational culture has repeatedly presented the conviction that staff live
and work in an equitable social and employment market in which individual
social mobility knows no bounds. This idea has been addressed more recently
Corresponding Author:
David Coley, Independent Probation Researcher, Brighton, UK.
Email: ayejusticeresearch@gmail.com
Comment The Journal of Communit
y
and Criminal Justice
Probation Journal
2024, Vol. 71(1) 87–95
© The Author(s) 2023
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/02645505231213976
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