PROBATION WORK IN ENGLAND:

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 28, 3 February 1939, Page 10

PROBATION WORK IN ENGLAND:

The Need for

A Sympathetic Naturet

Recently-1 had the opportunity of discussing probation work with an experienced -woman probation r officer, and she told me of the varied nature of her duties, the great responsibility attached to. the office,.and something of the valuable results that are .obtained by establishing a sympathetic relation with those who are placed on probation by the magistrates, says F. B. Law, writing in "The Queen." "It- is shell intensely human work," she said. >f, One realises that .in-many eases these children and adults who have been in our., charge have been so deeply -wronged by, society. So often they,, are riot; bad- or. Vwicked in sense,- though* if not'helped at the critical moment when they come before the/"police- courts for the first time they; ..will probably be potential criminals. Many respond eagerly to our efforts to help them,-and quite a considerable number of those, placed on probation do quite Veil and never come | before the courts again. And' what a deep satisfaction it is- to us! # The Value of the Work. During the last few years the importance of probation work lias' been increasingly . recognised, and is now regarded, aa a most valuable form of social service. The modern attitude of those who. administer, justice in this country, the view''that liot punishment but reform is the objective of our. system. of law, is largely due to the scientific study of delinquency and our increased knowledge of psychology. Hence the value of the probation officer who will act as a friend and-an adviser to those who have committed an offence against the law,'but are in no sense hardened in crime—indeed, the vast number of those 'placed on probation are first- offenders. ' ■ • ■/ '•*' .The work of the probation officer cannot be exactly defined: it involves investigation often over, a very wide area, supervision, guidance and, iii the words of the Probation of Offenders Act', 1907, to "advise, ; assist and' •befriend and,'.where necessary, find.employment," while,. the Children and .Young Persons Act of 1933 lays it down that . the Jntfenile Court is charged with..;"the • welfare of the child or young person" who Comes before it, and on the probation officer devolves the duty of endeavouring to carry out such arrangements as will T>enefit those placed on probation. * In a pamphlet recently issued .by the Home it is stated that while the "first-concern of ; the.probation officer ..is Supervision of the adult or juvenile offender,... "the officer may. be called upon to .undertake many other forms of w social service, , . . lie may toe expected to act as conciliator .in matrimonial cases . .he may be made responsible for inquiries in - regard to the adoptiorTof children ... he frequently acts ks 'local friend' in the after-care of cases discharged from the (approved) schools :or Borstal institutions." The probation officer in the Juvenile Courts has to,visit the homes, and .parents of the offenders, co-operate with the various social agencies of the. ,district, and, perhaps most important of all, maintain s'ucli a. friendly relation with the young offenders that the latter consult her and her their difficulties. ! a > Necessary Qualifications.' K The duties of the probation officer being so diversified and responsible, it will be seen that "a certain of outlook s and experience" ' (to; quote the Home Office circular) is required. The "minimum age of appointment is-23, but'' as a rule selected candidates are con-, sideraibly. -older. Only are.- 1 really doing .good/ social' Service 'for- the community, .should consider, this the work is _ very, ; ardu--oug and demands .an understanding .of working-class Conditions,-, an; - interest. : .iri • and knowledge of psychology, immense sympathy and breadth of outlook, coupled with level-headedness, tact and great patience, and iii case of the probationer at the Juvenile. Courts a real love of boys. and; girls jiid a sense '.of-' humour.-"•" '•" ' ; ; ''' to''"'* -training;'-tlie Home -Office ihas now appointed a Probation Training Board,, which will select candidates, suitably qualified for.(appointment. In selecting such persons, "evidence of personality and character -plays a. strong .part" Two : • forms of training for the work/will be accepted; university diploma in social science" and its equivalent, accompanied by some . .-practical experience, ;or a. special probation course under the direction of the 'board; To aneet' the present need for probation Officers of both sexes the board offers •to suitable candidates between the ages of 21 and 30, two years' training in preparation 'for a diplopia. The iboard also offers a shortened course to those candiI dates who already possess a "background of general social training or experience." During the course of such training candidates will receive a maintenance grant at the rate of £150 a ■year. • Salaries and Prospects. On appointment as probation officers, women are paid £220 a year, rising to £320. There are a few higher posts, •principal officers being placed on . a special salary scale rising for women to £400. Pensions on a contributory basis are payable at 65. - .' . Prospects for nomen probation officers are good, thoigjgh, of course, there is no great demand tfor their services, as in the case of . servants and nurses. But as mwfre ,and more - first offenders and also young persons .in danger oif falling into this category are ibeing (placed on probation there must ibo an increasing number of probation ■officers. There are still over three hundred Courts without . the service of -women officers, and undoubtedly there will be new appointments to both adult j aiul-juvenile Courts in the near future.

Probably the' best "way of preparing for .this form of admirable and deeply interesting social service is for girls to take a university degree or diploma in social service, and then undertake some definite piece of social work which will give- them the practical experience required for probation work. In course of time it is likely that the Probation •Training Board, will expect all candi'.'dates to have such, a diploma, and will longer ;