NCJ Number
86663
Date Published
1981
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This overview of probation innovations in Australia focuses on pretrial and presentence reports, supervision, and the use of a consultant/advisory group in the area of community-based sanctions.
Abstract
Innovation in pretrial and presentence reports is oriented toward a redefinition of court-based social work service which includes the use of volunteers. Some have suggested the following function categories for such work: (1) crisis intervention, (2) advocacy, (3) marital and family work, (4) extended social work (followup service for clients, who are under no obligation to accept it), (5) volunteer liaison, and (6) report writing (having the sole function of identifying all the problems which would arise if a defendant were imprisoned). In the area of probation supervision, one of the most significant innovations is the growing use of volunteers. This has been criticized in some quarters, however, as requiring more work by officers in coordinating volunteers and lessening accountability when volunteers are responsible for supervision. Another proposed innovation is the use of advisory committees composed of representatives of police, education, health, law, unions, voluntary agencies, major political parties, and the media to provide consultation in the use of community-based services for corrections. Other innovations include the provision of remedial teaching programs, variation in degrees of supervision, the use of day attendance centers and bail hostels, and the passing of a major portion of supervision cases to the private sector. Nine footnotes are listed.