Monthly calls for some probationers

Press, 23 February 1977, Page 6

Monthly calls for some probationers

About 200 people on pro- ; bation in Christchurch are j under “nominal supervision,” reporting only once a month ; to their probation officers inI stead of the usual once a ; week. The 200, about 17 per cent 'of the probationers, were I selected by the probation [officers for their “special ’ treatment” because the offi- : cers are working to their I own formula of 45 cases a ! month, with eight court reports. Probation officers in other ; centres imposed a work limit I of 50 cases a month on Mon--1 day, but in Christchurch the action was taken on FebruI ary 14. It has been taken in I protest against what the I Public Service Association describes as “intolerable” ■ conditions. I The Christchurch probation [officers representative on the P.S.A, (Mr W. A. Parkhill) 'said yesterday that when the I formula was imposed Christ I church officers were suffering! [the worst conditions in the ; country, with only 11 officers I trying to cope with a case [ load which should have been i handled by 26, the full district complement. i He said that there were | now 17 Christchurch officers, I but eight of them were new and not “fully effective.” ByMay or June the service should be adequate, he said. I “The effect has been that

the probationers with whom, I we are dealing have been [getting a better deal,” he t said. At times in the pastj few years officers had been! [struggling to keep up with 90 I cases a month. Mr Parkhill said that the! ; morale of the Christchurch [ I officers had also improved. I The Christchurch officers ' imposed their own work con-| ditions after consulting the; .Public Service Association ! because they felt they could I not cope with heavy workl loads and do justice to the! probationers. Mr Parkhill said that the [reason why Christchurch; (officers were working to a!

case load of 45 while officers; in other centres had 50 cases! a month was that Christ-' church officers did more court duty. Mr Parkhill said that those on nominal supervision were carefully selected and their reporting times reduced onlyj after initial more regular re-; polling. He said that the probation service was now becoming more of a career. “The next step is to get an attractive salary to keep the people here.” he said. The' officers intended to keep to I the formula of 45 cases a month with eight court re-[ ports.