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Synopsis
A lively and challenging collection of writings by those at the very heart of the Probation Service for 50-years. Complete with descriptions of life at all levels of what has been described as the 'jewel in the crown' of criminal justice. Moral and other challenges are presented alongside those of standing-up to government Ministers whose aspirations for 'political immortality' have led to profound tensions. The book describes how tough talk and market-strategies have undermined 100-years of devoted public service and ideas about how best to help change the lives of some of the most marginalised people in society. Equality, race and social deprivation are amongst the issues explored as the ethos of probation and its deeply-rooted values are laid bare in a book that deals with highs and lows, hazards, innovation, hopes, aims and the international influence of an organization whose original mission (not always popular) was to 'advise, assist and befriend' those otherwise heading for prison and a life of crime.Colourful and highly readable, The Golden Age of Probation takes the reader on a journey through England and Wales exposing social disadvantage, unrest and increasingly London-centric policies.
It records first-hand what life was like for those at the sharp end during an era of extensive progress, development and change. New & Used
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What Reviewers Are Saying
“PROBATION BELONGS AT A LOCAL LEVEL… PROFITS SHOULD NOT COME INTO IT” SAYS ALAN BENNETT: SO YOU ARE WARNED WHERE THIS BOOK IS COMING FROM… AND GOING TO!
An appreciation by Phillip Taylor MBE and Elizabeth Taylor of Richmond Green Chambers
The work of what was known as the ‘Probation Service’ is well remembered and described here in this fascinating historical picture of 50 years’ worth of how probation operated in England and Wales until the changes brought in the 21st century.
Of course, the problem is always going to be “change” with many seeing the benefits of “profit” which runs as a golden thread through this book. Author Roger Statham has brought together an excellent series of writings which will be of benefit to legal historians and, possibly, serious future politicians who might possibly care to look at criminal justice in a different way.
The issue of “cost’ does feature strongly throughout and we feel that you, as the reader, will be on either one side or the other in the debate about whether this service has any future in the public sector only.
That great privatizer, Margaret Thatcher, was right to look again at the way public sector business is conducted but a line has to be drawn in the sand somewhere between those public services which must remain public and those which are capable of privatization.
The basis of the book and the powerful Foreword by Alan Bennett reinforces where we are today… frankly in as much chaos as the past with no proper thought put in to reforming a service which attempts to help change the lives of some of the most marginalized people in our communities.
Bennett writes the oft quoted view that “the notion that probation, which is intended to help those who have fallen foul of the law, should make a profit for shareholders seems beyond satire”. And he is being kind here, not comic!
The doom merchants will always say that ‘reforms’ of the sort we are seeing now under both Tory and Labour governments will ruin the system and the cumulative wisdom of 100 years of devoted public service will be undermined.
But that is the problem with any reform. It is compounded by the main fact that successive parliaments have not been prepared to face proper reform of the criminal justice system but have merely messed it up and chucked additional clauses to already confused Bills ending up with the usual ‘camel of legislation’ which another parliament tries to rectify… but does not, usually making things worse!
So where are we with Statham’s “lively and challenging” 20 contributions in this excellent book “The Golden Age of Probation”? Probably farther along the road to substantial reform than we know! The old view “if it isn’t broken… don’t fix it’ is strongly persuasive but the message of the book is clear from Alan Bennett: “Probation belongs at a local level and profit should not come into it”. We think he is right and hope the reader does, too.
We also hope all candidates for election in 2015 read this book and stop mucking up the criminal justice process if elected- a tall order, but when chaos is heaped on chaos, hopefully something constructive and not dogmatic might arise from the ashes… we can but hope and this book will remain a golden treasure for anyone affected or involved in any way with what should be the remedy of probation for the 21st century instead of constant custody.
An appreciation
The work of what was known as the ‘Probation Service’ is well remembered and described here in this fascinating historical picture of 50 years’ worth of how probation operated in England and Wales until the changes brought in the 21st century.
Of course, the problem is always going to be “change” with many seeing the benefits of “profit” which runs as a golden thread through this book. Author Roger Statham has brought together an excellent series of writings which will be of benefit to legal historians and, possibly, serious future politicians who might possibly care to look at criminal justice in a different way.
The issue of “cost’ does feature strongly throughout and we feel that you, as the reader, will be on either one side or the other in the debate about whether this service has any future in the public sector only.
That great privatizer, Margaret Thatcher, was right to look again at the way public sector business is conducted but a line has to be drawn in the sand somewhere between those public services which must remain public and those which are capable of privatizatio
The basis of the book and the powerful Foreword by Alan Bennett reinforces where we are today… frankly in as much chaos as the past with no proper thought put in to reforming a service which attempts to help change the lives of some of the most marginalized
Bennett writes the oft quoted view that “the notion that probation, which is intended to help those who have fallen foul of the law, should make a profit for shareholders
The doom merchants will always say that ‘reforms’ of the sort we are seeing now under both Tory and Labour governments will ruin the system and the cumulative wisdom of 100 years of devoted public service will be undermined.
But that is the problem with any reform. It is compounded by the main fact that successive parliaments have not been prepared to face proper reform of the criminal justice system but have merely messed it up and chucked additional clauses to already confused Bills ending up with the usual ‘camel of legislation’ which another parliament tries to rectify… but does not, usually making things worse!
So where are we with Statham’s “lively and challenging” 20 contribution
We also hope all candidates for election in 2015 read this book and stop mucking up the criminal justice process if elected- a tall order, but when chaos is heaped on chaos, hopefully something constructive
'A timely resource because it revives historical memory on the origins and core principles of what probation should be'- Journal of Community Corrections; 'A lived consciousness from a group of witnesses, reflectively composed by the supervisory and managerial guardians of a historico-cultural tradition within the criminal justice system that has been systematically dismantled by a petty politics of disavowal by governments since the 1990s... For those interested in plotting a recent history of probation and criminal justice transformation, this book provides personal testimony from those who occupied senior positions'- The Howard Journal; 'We also hope all candidates for election in 2015 read this book and stop mucking up the criminal justice process further if elected'- Phillip Taylor MBE and Elizabeth Taylor of Richmond Green Chambers. The author, playwright and actor Alan Bennett contributed the Foreword after recording elsewhere his thoughts on certain responsibilities remaining in public hands: 'The notion that probation, which is intended to help those who have fallen foul of the law, should make a profit for shareholders seems beyond satire.' Diary, 2013. 'The rewards of probation - are human profits and nothing to do with balance sheets.' Cambridge Sermon, 2014.