Research
| Date | 01 September 1989 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455058903600314 |
| Published date | 01 September 1989 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
reference to depositions. Evidence that
RESEARCH the defendant’s family have been inter-
viewed was available in only one in five
cases. In almost a third of
cases where
reliance was placed on probation
records and information from other
agencies, evidence of verification was
absent.
Layout. Policy requites reports to
contain three main sections: social in-
formation, offence, recommendations
with headings and numbered para-
graphs. Reports should begin with a
brief summary of the recommended
disposal. In practice only 8% of
magistrates court reports (and 10% of
all reports) started with a recommen-
SER Policy and Practice
dation summary, officers commenting
that magistrates disliked that format.
How readily does Service policy
29% of reports did not use headings,
translate into practice reality? Does it
the dissenters maintaining that these in-
promote healthy consistency or result
terrupt flow.
in mechanistic inflexibility? How well
Content. Policy requires attention
does it fit in with professional judge-
to offence motive, culpability and
ment and variations between local
responsibility, attitude to victim,
criminal justice systems?
remorse, willingness to make amends
In July 1987 Hampshire Probation
etc. A
third of reports failed to address
Service introduced a policy statement
motive, a quarter neglected culpability,
on
SERs, covering the structure content
three-quarters ignored remorse, less
and form of recommendation in
than 10% made reference to attitude
reports and issued to all officers via a
to victim. Policy requires more than
day’s in-service training. Subsequent-
just a mere listing description of
ly, the Service’s research unit analysed
previous offences; only 50% offered
253 reports written between August
more in practice. Policy requires
1987 and February 1988, to compare
description of the offender’s wider
practice outcome with policy inten-
social network; less than a third
tion, and interviewed 30 officers for
covered friends and...
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