A New Probation Service
| Date | 01 September 1982 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455058202900305 |
| Published date | 01 September 1982 |
| Author | W.A. Griffiths |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
A New Probation Service
W. A. Griffiths
Chief Probation Officer, Northern Ireland
The creation of an independent Probation Service in Northern
Ireland involves the development of a probation perspective
distinct and separate from that of the Social Services. Here,
the Chief Probation Officer for the new Service considers the
professional implications of the restructured administration.
NAPO’s April Newsletter (April 19R2)
Scottish system of children’s panels, with
referred to the establishment of a new
the concomitant recommendation that
Probation Services Board in Northern
Probation be absorbed into Social Service
Ireland and explained some of the trade
Departments. The only evidence resisting
union issues. This article will consider
such a course came from Probation
some professional and social implica-
Service representative bodies and the
tions. In the event the term Services was
Northern Ireland Office itself.
dropped from the title and the Probation
After protracted debate the Black
Board (Northern Ireland) Order became
Committee not only decided to retain a
law in June 1982.
judicial process for dealing with children
in trouble but went further by recom-
A
new Probation Service
mending that the care process be disen-
Effectively a new Probation Service has
tangled from criminal justice and be
been created in the United Kingdom.
dealt with in a separate court. Sentences
This statement of faith by Government
for children should be determinate, with-
might be seen to come at a timely
out the option of care, and there should
moment in the life of the Service nation-
be a single custodial unit of fixed size
ally. The Order was a direct consequence
with the implication that children should
of the Black Report,l Northern Ireland’s
not be processed into adult prisons. The
equivalent of Kilbrandon and Longford.
underlying assumption was that ’soft’
The Report’s main concern was to
systems of containment for children in-
examine services and legislation...
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