The probation service and victims of crime: Paradigm shift or cop-out?

Abstract

The Probation Service in England and Wales has increasingly been required to embrace work with victims of crime. Many probation practitioners have expressed unease about the implications of this change of direction: does it really improve the position of victims, and does it shift the focus of the Service away from work with offenders? In practice, recent initiatives in work with victims have raised ethical dilemmas which have yet to be resolved. Examples are given of the implementation of the Victim‘s Charter and of the arrangements for partnership between the Probation Service and Rape Crisis, Victim Support and Women’s Aid.

The Government continues to impose new duties upon the Probation Service, and has recently taken further initiatives in relation to victims of crime. Victims' organizations are increasingly employing a discourse of rights rather than needs, yet victims are becoming something of a political football. Is the Probation Service the appropriate organization to help victims of crime? The implications for victims, probation and the wider criminal justice system are considered in the light of recent research.

Key Words:

• victims of crime
• probation
• Victim's Charter
• partnership
• domestic violence
• counselling