The role of community councils in probation reform
| Author | Elliot Tyler |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/02645505221143488 |
| Published date | 01 March 2023 |
| Date | 01 March 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Comment piece |
The role of community
councils in probation
reform
Elliot Tyler
User Voice, UK
Abstract
A great benefit exists in giving people on probation the ability to contribute their ideas
to the process of ongoing change. The direct experiences of people on probation, and
embracing ‘lived experience’, can bring valuable input and unique insights as to what
is and is not working within probation. In this comment piece, I outline –through a
case study and relevant comment –how service user councils can act as a key refer-
ence for the evaluation and improvement of probation services.
Keywords
probation reform, community councils, lived experience, service user engagement,
democracy, people on probation
Introduction
There are around 235,000 people under probation supervision, whether it be in the
form of a community order, pre- or post-release supervision, or a suspended sen-
tence. This supervision can vary hugely in terms of frequency, complexity, necessity,
and purpose. While there is a common desire to rebuild lives, probation can occa-
sionally find itself being an obstacle to rehabilitation because of excessive bureau-
cracy, lack of time and resources available to practitioners, a dearth of fresh
approaches, or simply poor relationships with people on probation. This is where
the person will either flourish or re-offend after a sentence, as do up to 57.5% of
people (Ministry of Justice, 2022) who fall back into the clutches of the criminal
justice system.
Corresponding Author:
Elliot Tyler, User Voice, 20 Newburn Street, London SE11 5PJ, UK.
Email: etyler@uservoice.org
Comment piece The Journal of Communit
y
and Criminal Justice
Probation Journal
2023, Vol. 70(1) 70–77
© The Author(s) 2022
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/02645505221143488
journals.sagepub.com/home/prb
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