On Probation in Texas: No Alternative to Custody
| Date | 01 September 1988 |
| Author | Chris Barnes |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455058803500304 |
| Published date | 01 September 1988 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
On Probation in Texas:
No Alternative to Custody
Chris Barnes
Probation Officer, Brockhill RC
The Home Office is impressed with many American
correctional methods. The author recently spent time with
the Harris County Adult Probation Service in Houston,
having a preview of ’punishment in the community’, and
concludes that it is ’as far removed from social work as I
can imagine.’
businesslike. At each visit a supervision fee is
Houston’s city limits span a distance roughly
levied (between 20 and 40 dollars, depending
equivalent to Hereford and Worcester. The
on the order of the court) and fines and com-
social divide is huge; the life of the city is
pensation collected by the officer. Discussion
geared to those with cars and money to spend.
takes place about the progress of the particular
There is no public transport to speak of and no
programme that each client is allocated to.
public housing programmes. The unemployed
These programmes are generally run outside the
may receive unemployment insurance, but may
probation office by other agencies; some
not. There is a complex system of food stamps,
charitable, some commercial, and deal with
housing coupons and charitable aid, but I
common problems such as substance abuse,
couldn’t find a probation officer able to explain
violence, sexual problems. The probation of-
it to me, so what hope for the illiterate poor?
ficer’s task seems to be to sort out the good pro-
Illiteracy is a subject of great concern at the pre-
gammes from the bad, a complex task as such
sent time. The estimate of the numbers living
schemes spring up rapidly but, in many cases,
on the city streets is 2,000+, mainly women
just as rapidly fold up.
and children. Substance abuse is widespread
A client who has a drink or drugs problem
and the level of violent crime is very high.
will be ordered by the court to produce urine
samples for testing at the probation office.
’Do British PO’s Carry Guns?’
When I said that I didn’t think British proba-
tion officers would welcome having clients turn
One of the first questions asked of me, from
up at the office with sample bottles, I was told
which you will deduce that in Houston proba-
that I had completely misunderstood. The sam-
tion officers do carry guns, but they are not sup-
ple must be produced in the office (I mean the
posed to wear them in the office or in court,
office ’restroom’) with the probation...
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