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9 Prob. 1 (1959)

handle is hein.journals/probj9 and id is 1 raw text is: Probation THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PROBATION OFFICERS VOLUME NINE NUMBER ONE . MARCH 1959 A NEW DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE A message from Mr. N. W. GRANT, Chairman of the National Association of Probation Officers TWENTY-THREE years ago the Departmental Com- mittee on the Social Services in the Courts of Summary Jurisdiction published a report which became the blue print of the Probation Service as we know it. Now, after pressure from the National Association of Probation Officers over a period of nearly two years, the Home Secretary has appointed another Departmental Committee, but this time to deal with the Probation Service only - but in every aspect, and in Scotland as well as in England and Wales. In the 1936 Report the Committee showed remarkable foresight with regard to the Probation Service. The foun- dations were laid then for a growing service; it is doubtful, however, if the Committee envisaged that it would grow to five times the strength of that time. It is only in recent years that there have been signs that the machinery needed to be overhauled and the future planned anew. The appointment of the new Departmental Committee is a challenge to each of the members of N.A.P.O. Indi- vidually and through their branches they can help to formulate the views which the Association will give in evidence. In this way they can help to shape the future of a Service which has achieved a proud reputation by reason of the contribution which it has made to the com- munity during the past fifty years. Those who want immediate results will find that the setting up of the Committee will cause them frustration, for the present position is likely to be frozen and show little change until a Report is presented. Those with vision as to what the Probation Service could be, will work to see that this Association plays a worthy part in the production of plans for the future, thus enabling the Service to take an even more significant place in the life of the nation in the years to come Our General Secretary and his staff will be hard pressed during the coming months. The loyal support of the mem- bers of the Association will help to ease the burden, and I am confident they will give this, and that they will respond to demands that may be made upon them in many ways to assist in the preparation and presentation of state- ments of evidence truly representative of, and creditable to, the Association and the Service. PENAL PRACTICE IN A CHANGING SOCIETY T HE Government's long promised statement on penal policy appeared on 2nd February. It was prefaced by a private conference held by the Home Secretary in the Home Office, in which he enlisted the support of social, religious and educational organisations in the fight against causes of crime. The White Paper is not a sensational document, nor does it represent any emergency legislation to deal with the current serious crime situation. The Government has refused to give way to panic, despite pressure from some of its supporters for what would appear to be more drastic measures. Instead the White Paper looks forward to a general revision of our penal institutions so that they may be able to deal with a situa- tion like that obtaining today, and even more adequately with any improved situation. Three days after the White Paper was announced an answer in the House of Commons showed that the total cost of our law, our courts, police, prisons, Borstals, approved schools and probation was in the nature of £75 million per annum; of this the cost of penal institutions is about £10 million, and the cost of probation probably less than £2 million. This means that probably about one- fifth of the total expenditure is on treatment and it seems not unreasonable that further expenditure in this depart- ment might ultimately reduce the total. The policy of our prison system is already declared as being to establish in prisoners the will to lead a good and useful life on discharge and to fit them to do so. The Home Secretary is obviously determined to extend the oppor- tunities for training and treatment with that end in view.

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