Unsettling "cloud" of Parker reforms lifts from Probation Service

Tuesday 26 April 2022

The future of the Jersey Probation and After-Care Service as an independent body overseen by the courts, rather than the Government, has been secured.

Described by the service itself as a “cloud hanging over us all for so long”, former civil service head Charlie Parker wanted to bring it within the Justice and Home Affairs Department, under his ‘Target Operating Model’ reorganisation.

This was stiffly resisted by the Probation Service, which wanted to remain a non-ministerial department overseen by a board of Royal Court-appointed Jurats.

The service has previously called the uncertainty "unsettling and regrettable".

After more than four years not knowing its future, the service says in its recently published annual report for 2021 that it has received “welcome confirmation” that the current governance structure will remain in place, and it can now focus “without distraction” on its core work.

That work is providing the parishes, courts and prison with reports on clients, and to supervise those offenders given Probation, Community Service and other orders, in order to reduce re-offending, allow restitution and protect the public. 

Pictured: The service oversees thousands of hours of work each year in the community.

In family proceedings, its Jersey Family Court Advisory Service also provides the Royal Court with reports and advice about the best interests of children.  

Last year, the service completed 447 reports, a 12.5% increase on pandemic-impacted 2020. There was also a 10.5% increase in the number of new supervisions added, including a 75% increase in new probation orders imposed by the Youth Court, rising from 29 in 2020 to 35 last year. Six young people had 13 orders between them.

The gender split for those placed on probation in 2021 was 88.5% male / 11.5% female, compared to 82% male / 18% female in 2020.

There was also a 19% rise in community service orders. The number of young people being placed on community service remained “on the higher side”, the report said.

Those on community service orders provided 15,080 hours of free work for the benefit of the island last year with the average order length being 122 hours. By far the most hours – more than 4,000 – were spent working in charity shops. Next – more than 2,600 hours – were spent on environmental services, followed by just under 2,000 hours spent working at the Zoo.

Last year, the service met its target of at least 66% of clients reducing their risk of reconviction by the end of their probation order. 26.3% of clients increased their risk of re-conviction by the end of their probation order, a slight rise on 2020 but lower than the 2019 figure of 27.8%.

85% of clients completed their probation orders and 83% of clients completed their community service orders

Chief Probation Officer Mike Cutland said: “We were delighted that constructive dialogue with the Home Affairs department resulted in an agreement that the governance arrangement would remain in place with the service continuing to report to the Probation Board while working closely with the courts and other agencies, both statutory and voluntary, throughout the island. 

“This welcome confirmation has, for the first time in several years, allowed the Service to focus, without distraction, on its core work. In 2021 we have therefore been able to develop services for children in both criminal justice and family settings as well as enhancing our services to prisoners and improving the quality of our court reports.

“We have been successful in achieving our strategic objective of recruiting and retaining a local and skilled workforce wherever it is appropriate to do so. 

“The combination of new staff with fresh ideas and skills together with an experienced cadre of colleagues offers some exciting possibilities for the future. Everyone has been heartened by the positive feedback we have received from clients of the service, victims with whom we work and community service beneficiaries. 

“These would indicate that we are having success in meeting our objectives of contributing to a safer community and enhancing the wellbeing of children and their families.”