Probation Practice With Foreign Nationals
| DOI | 10.1177/026455059904600308 |
| Published date | 01 September 1999 |
| Date | 01 September 1999 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
196
This
might
include
investigation
into
why
there
is
such
a
high
rate
of
charge
reduction;
a
more
detailed
examination
of
how
decisions
are
influenced
at
each
stage
in
the
process;
and
of
how
better
support
for
victims
might
reduce
the
rate
of
attrition.
A
Question
of
Evidence?
Investigating
and
Prosecuting
Rape
in
the
1990s,
by
Jessica
Harris
and
Sharon
Grace,
Home
Office
Research
Study
196, 1999.
Probation
Practice
With
Foreign
Nationals
Since
its
inception
in
1991,
the
Middlesex
Probation
Service
Foreign
Nationals
Unit
(FNU)
has
established
a
strong
reputation
for
providing
well-researched
pre-sentence
reports
on
foreign
nationals
arrested
for
drug
trafficking.
It
has
also
been
active
in
promoting
good
practice
with
foreign
nationals
awaiting
trial
and
post-sentence.
This
report
summarises
the
lessons
leamt
by
the
FNU
workers
over
recent
years
and
the
wider
implications
which
emerge
for
probation
practice
with
foreign
nationals.
Main
points:
.
The
FNU’s
experience
confirms
the
findings
of
earlier
studies
that
foreign
nationals
are
amongst
the
most
vulnerable
and
marginalised
people
in
the
Prison
System,
requiring
special
attention
and
assistance
from
both
statutory
and
non-governmental
agencies.
.
If
probation
services
are
pro-active
in
offering
to
prepare
reports
on
foreign
nationals,
the
courts
welcome
them.
If
not,
they
are
unlikely
to
be
requested.
As
a
consequence,
large
numbers
of
offenders
are
sentenced
to
substantial
terms
of
imprisonment
without
the
benefit
of
background
information.
This
is
also
a
disadvantage
in
the
sentencing-planmng
process.
.
The
advent
of
sentence
planning
has
led
to
an
increased
likelihood
of
a
field
throughcare
probation
officer
being
appointed
for
non-UK
residents.
In
addition,
the
Parole
Unit
now
requires
that
the
risk
of
deportees
reoffending
in
their
home
country
should
be
addressed
in
prison
probation
reports.
These
factors
have
led
to
more
initiatives,
usually
led
by
prison
probation
departments,
to
address
offending
behaviour
of
foreign
national
drug
couriers,
mainly
through
groupwork
programmes.
.
The
courts
are
less
likely
to
recommend
and
the
Immigration
and
Nationality
Department
less
likely
to
enforce
the
deportation
of
European
Union
nationals
unless
serious
crimes
have been
committed.
An
inconsistency
of
practice
has
subsequently
developed
across
probation
services.
Faced
with
supervising
licence
periods
for
EU
nationals,
some
services
have been
willing
to
suspend
licence
requirements
if
the
offender
wants
to
return
home,
but
others
are
more
reluctant
to
do
so.
.
Work
with
foreign
nationals
involves
much
joint
work
and
liaison
with
partnerships
and
other
agencies,
as
well
as
training
and
support
for
workers.
The
existence
of
a
specialist
unit
to
institute
and
maintain
such
links,
and
provide
training
has
proven
invaluable.
.
There
remains
a
pressing
need
for
a
central
national
resource
which
can
be
accessed
by
all
those
working
with
foreign
nationals.
The
main
aims
would
be
to
promote
good
practice;
provide
support
to
probation
staff
and
others;
and
develop
contacts
in
this
country
and
internationally
which
can
assist
the
support
and
rehabilitation
of
released
foreign
national
prisoners.
Abernethy,
R.
and
Hammond,
N.
(1999)
Working
with
Offenders
from
Abroad:
Probation
Practice
Issues.
Foreign
Nationals
Unit,
Middlesex
Probation
Service.
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