The Probation Order —Its Decline?
| Date | 01 June 1978 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455057802500203 |
| Published date | 01 June 1978 |
| Author | R.H. Robinson |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
42
The
Probation
Order
—its
Decline?
R.
H.
ROBINSON
THE
DECLINE
in
the
proportionate
use
of
the
probation
order
by
the
courts
is
one
of
those
uncomfortable
facts
which
requires
the
attention
of
the
Probation
Service,
particularly
when
it
is
seen
in
the
context
of
a
rising
crime
rate
and
high
prison
population.
The
decline
is
an
absolute
one
in
that
the
total
number
of
probation
orders
has
fallen
but
also
reflects
a
fall
in
the
proportionate
use
of
probation
by
the
courts
compared
with
other
sentences
as
the
total
number
of
persons
found
guilty
is
increasing.
The
following
table
(quoted
in
Probation
and
After-Care
Statistics
1975-76)
presents
the
evidence:
People
aged
17
and
over
placed
on
probation:
by
sex
of
offender
1967-I976
Defendants
of
all
ages
are
affected
by
the
fall
in
proportionate
use
of
probation,
but
of
special
concern
are
the
17-20
age
group
where
the
decline
has
been
particularly
noticeable.
The
reasons
for
this
situation
are
complex
and
certainly
warrant
further
investigation,
but
it
is
certain
that
the
introduction
of
Community
Service
has
had
some
influence
on
the
position
as
has
the
decrease
in
the
number
of
defendants
given
three
year
orders.
All
the
factors
resulting
in
this
diminished
proportionate
use
of
pro-
bation
are
not
within
the
control
of
the
Probation
Service;
but
some
are
and
they
deserve
special
attention.
The
most
obvious
factor
influencing
the
use
of
probation,
is
the
re-
commendation
made
at
the
end
of
the
social
inquiry
report.
Various
figures
are
quoted
about
the
relationship
between
the
recommendations
made
by
the
Service
and
the
actual
sentence
passed
by
the
court,
but
it
would
be
generally
accepted
that
recommendations
are
followed
by
the
court
in
about
eight
out
of
ten
cases
where
the
Service
chooses
to
make
them.
(Peter
Ford,
&dquo;Advising
Sentencers&dquo;,
1972).
Consequently
questions
must
be
asked
as
to
whether
the
Probation
Service
is
being
more
or
unduly
selective
in
its
recommendations
for
probation.
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