Drawing on the authors’ extensive
experience of working in the criminal justice and penal systems, this book presents a
clear description and analysis of the stages and components of probation and parole
work. Probation and parole are two vital components of any criminal justice system.
Practitioners working in both are responsible for the assessment and supervision of
those members of society who have committed criminal offences and are subject to
court-ordered penal sanction. Those working in probation and parole must bring a
range of knowledge and skills to bear in their daily work: championing community
safety and justice, promoting offender reintegration, and seeking to reduce offending
and the harm it causes. All of that practice is in turn underpinned by law.
Professional practice in probation and parole is also increasingly informed by
research findings regarding ‘what works’ and indeed ‘who works.'