Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

Original poster

The Probation Service - anybody know anything about it?

14 replies

CookieMonster · 29/08/2006 12:56

I am wondering if there is anybody here who knows anything about what goes on at a Probation Service interview.
Brief history is that my brother is being charged with ABH - he appeared in court and pleaded guilty and now he has to go for a meeting with the Probation Service prior to sentencing next week.
Apparently this is his opportunity to put forward the mitigating circumstances etc etc, but I am wondering what sort of format this meeting will take ... is anybody allowed to go in with him? If so, can anybody else speak? Will he simply be asked to 'present his case' and that'll be it or will there be questions for him?
Any information would be gladly received ...

A worried CookieMonster

OP posts:
tiredemma · 29/08/2006 13:00

its more like an informal chat kind of thing really, it really does depend on the probabtion officer as to whether you can speak for him also.

Is it his first offence? A pre-sentence report will just look at his past and what kind of punishment he is likely to recieve

Original poster
CookieMonster · 29/08/2006 13:07

Tiredemma, yes it is his first offence. So do you think I will be allowed in the room to listen even if not allowed to speak? I just want to be there for him for moral support really.
Will he get some idea at the interview as to what his punishment is likely to be or will we have to wait till he goes back to court?

OP posts:
tiredemma · 29/08/2006 13:11

his probabtion officer may talk to him about possible punishment and put forward in his report what he thinks is suitable- for example- if your brother shows remorse and a desire to "put himself right" then the probabtion officer generally would put this in the report for whever is making the descision to look at. ( is it a magistrates court or crown court?) - if its magistrates then you may get some useful info out of Cod as she is a mag.

I have sat in on countless interviews between my brother and his probabtion officer, as i say it may be at the probation officers discretion but i have only ever found probation officers to be generally quite friendly and helpful.

SaintGeorgeMarple · 29/08/2006 13:12

I knew some POs who were happy to have people attending for moral support, others are dead set against it.

The PO has to write a PSR for the court. As tiredemma said it will cover his history, his general attitude (is he remorseful for example), his likelihood to reoffend. It also covers family/support background. The PO will make a recommendation of sentence but it is up to the court if it is followed through or not.

SaintGeorgeMarple · 29/08/2006 13:13

Sorry should have said, I was an assistant to a group of POs so I was the poor sod who got to type out the PSRs.

hulababy · 29/08/2006 13:18

They will ask about alcohol and drug use. They will also work our his risk rating of reoffending.

fattiemumma · 29/08/2006 13:23

AS STG has already said its pretty much just a chat where your brothr can give his account...not i any legally binding way, he has already pleaded guilty anyway....and they will discuss whther he works, his family life, social life, if he uses drugs or alcohol etc etc.

the meeting is so that the PO can writte the PSR as this is what the Mag uses to decide on a punishment.

I promise it is really nothing to be worried about. tell him to be as honest as possible and go dressed smartly but not necessarily in a suit....smart casual is best

SaintGeorgeMarple · 29/08/2006 13:25

And on time.

fattiemumma · 29/08/2006 13:26

oooh yes definatly on time!

Original poster
CookieMonster · 29/08/2006 14:06

Thanks everybody for your responses ... I do feel a bit better about this now - sounds like it's not going to be as formal as I first thought.

He is genuinely sorry that this happened and I have tried to tell him how important it is that he makes this clear to the PO - you have just reinforced that for me, so thanks!

CM xx

OP posts:
ocd · 29/08/2006 14:07

htey ask you everythign
is it an !"all options report "( ie considering custody) or a comminity one
tlel him to be brutally honest
i am a mag and read these a lot

hulababy · 29/08/2006 14:08

And although informal it is an important document.

In the prison we use the PSR a lot when deciding on targets, whether to recat, recommend for parole/tagging, etc.

It is important to get across his remorse and how good a character he really is, especially as this is a first offence.

ocd · 29/08/2006 14:09

yes it will go into every apect of his life his child hood
education, fmaily etc

if he needs help he needs to say - ie anger management or alcohol - also the poss of using a curfew - ie if he owns his own home etc

Original poster
CookieMonster · 29/08/2006 14:21

I am hoping and praying that this will not come to a custodial sentence since it is his first offence but as far as I know they will be considering everything.

The incident involved somebody he works with (he's a train driver - other person is a conductor), so I guess if he was to suggest that he be based out of a different station that would go down well?

Thanks again all. I just can't believe that this is happening to my little brother - it is so out of character.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page