The Probation Order: Vehicle of Social Work or Social Control?
| Date | 01 June 1984 |
| Published date | 01 June 1984 |
| Author | Paul Senior |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455058403100209 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
The Probation Order: Vehicle of
Social Work or Social Control?
Paul Senior
Sheffield Polytechnic/South Yorkshire Probation Service
The Chair of NAPO’s Probation Practice Committee reviews recent writings
and practice, and suggests that there are five approaches to Probation Orders.
Greater clarity of values and purpose will inform the choices for the Service
ahead.
The language of the professional worker and the
which distinguish the social work enterpnse from
associated elasticity of the term social work often
the overt use of social control mechanisms. This
enables us to assume that there is a collective and
typically includes such concepts as voluntarism,
shared set of values and beliefs. This myth is further
client self-determlnation , advocacy, help and so
sustained by concentrating discussion on the use
on. Two
aspects of the probation order actually
of similar techniques and methods and failing to
conceptualizes this distinction.
go on to ask fundamental questions in relation to
The order itself appears deceptively simple. It
underlying principles and beliefs which determine
is intended as an alternative to a sentence and
allows
the use to which such techniques can be applied.
the liberty of the offender, after he/she has made
As Jordan recently pointed out on developments
a
bond
before Court to observe certam conditions.
imposed on the Service, we seem willing to accept
The supervision of the offender is enshrined in the
and develop new roles and tasks with the minimum
requirements laid down in each individual order;
of fuss which enables such changes as those
normally to be of good behaviour, notify change
embodied m
the Criminal Justice Act 1982 to be
of address and employment, to receive visits at
felt acceptable or at least tolerable to essentially
home and comply with the officer’s instruction.
very different sectional views and interests.’ In
Extra conditions for residence, mental treatment
looking at this issue m relation to the probation
and, following the 1982 Criminal Justice Act,
order I have come to identify five distinct
almost any other condition restraining or requiring
approaches (see diagram). The distinctive features
the offender to do specific activities can be
of each approach are categonsed accordmg to their
instituted. Such requirements are clear and
varying commitment to social work values and
determined and perforce structure the direct social
degree of overt social control. This merits some
control that an officer can exert over the offender.
prior justification.
In the five approaches I have tried to draw out this
element of the order and suggest in each case its
Social Work and Social Control
nature, degree and purpose and the effects it can
The care/control dichotomy has had a long
have on the social work component.
history in debates on social work intervention.
The duty of the probation officer is to advise,
Resolution of this debate has frequently got no
assist and befriend the offender and it is this element
further than citing the example of good parentmg.
which enshnnes the social work factor in an order.
Radical critiques have emphasised the social
A
detailed exposition of the nature of social work
control present in the seemingly helpful and caning
i
not possible here but I would certainly include
role. There is an inherent inequality m
relationships
the vanous welfare functions the probation officer
between worker and client no matter how open,
has traditionally performed. The precise social
negotiated and seemingly unconditional help night
work interventions I hope will emerge from
be; the power relationship between giver and
discussions of the different models for indeed the
recipient must be acknowledged. The degree of
difference identified are in part of a reflection of
cognizance given to this dilemma must help
a
differing concept of social work. The distinctive
structure any work with individuals. However,
feature of this element is its potential for positive
albeit in a variety of forms, there are certam factors
professional practice, certamly absent from the
64
social control element. I do not nnply m
separatmg
Probation officers saw their tasks as rehabih-
these functions a separation m
practice (except of
tating offenders, bringing them back into society
course in the Separation Model). I have drawn out
to fulfil a normal role Notions of conformity,
these elements to indicate the dual strains on each
regular work habits, legitunate leisure pursuits and
probation officer supervising orders and how the
the sanctity of family life seemed to fit the
different approaches attempt to resolve them
objectives of a welfare agency. The officer’s role
bemg to identify the problems and prescnbe action
The Rehabilitation Model
which would achieve the transcendent goal of
Although casework did not exert any major
rehabilitation. As
Bottoms and McWilliams have
influence until the 1950s I believe that a treatment
pointed out, a medical treatment model was
ideology rather than representmg a new approach
frequently adopted albeit in a somewhat
was
grafted onto the traditional ethos and practice
bastardised form. Quoting Weston they argue that
of the pre-war probation officer. This
the client became the ‘co-operatme recipient of
accommodation between the patemalitic ideals
expert treatment’ .2
with notions of guidance, advocacy and material
Such an approach has predonunated in the
aid and casework strengthened the professional
Probation Service until fairly recent times. The
identity of the officer with the language of
schedules contained in the standard, often pre-
casework to justify the work s/he wishes to engage
pnnted probation order although with no statutory
and direct the client in. This amalgam emerged out
injunction have endured and are testimony to the
of
the more confident and self-satisfied era of the
persistance of the underlying beliefs: to lead an
post-war consensus; a firm belief in a society of
industrious life, to be of good behaviour, notify
affluence and a benevolent Welfare State and a
change of address and employment etc. The officer
seeming absence of fundamental value conflicts.
assumed from
the early days of probation the moral
Poverty was regarded as insignificant and residual
right as a citizen to encourage conformity and
and the Welfare State was quite adequate to attend
combined thts with the techmcal skills of casework
to any social problems and help individuals adjust
to fashion interventions to achieve such...
To continue reading
Request your trial