This title was first published in 2002: Throughout the book reflexive accounts of practice gathered from qualitative research in four different types of bail and probation hostels (women-only, women-only with provision for children, mixed and men-only) are used to argue that the combination of working with a difficult client group in a difficult setting creates a unique blend of professional and personal anxieties. These reflexive accounts are located within their broader social and criminal justice context, and analyzed in relation to contemporary criminological and sociological debates. The result is a detailed insight into the everyday world of bail and probation hostels covering issues such as managing risk and violence, coping with stress and evaluating practice.