Hampshire Probation Area
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Hampshire Probation Area
Friary House, Middle Brook Street, Winchester, SO23 8DQ
Tel: 01962 842202 Fax: 01962 865278
The Probation Board is celebrating its 100th Birthday in 2007. In celebration of this fact we are using this centenary celebration logo on the front page of our website for the whole of the year 2007.
The probation service has it's roots in the common law practice of releasing offenders on condition that they kept the peace and would come for judgement if called. During the late nineteenth century voluntary societies, led by the Church of England Temperance society, appointed missionaries to the London Police Courts. Their initial function to reclaim drunkards was later extended to other offenders. From this, developed the system of releasing offenders on the condition that they kept in touch with the missionary and accepted guidance.
In 1907, supervision was given a statutory basis which allowed courts to appoint and employ Probation Officers. Probation Officers were then formally empowered to work with offenders and to advise, assist and befrend offenders placed under supervision by the courts. Major developments followed including the beginning of work with prisoners before and after release, civil court work and reparation in the form of community service.
In the 1970's and 1980's partnerships with other agencies resulted in cautioning schemes, alternatives to custody, and crime reduction while changes in sentencing resulted in day centres, special programme conditions, the probation order as a sentence and risk of custody and risk of reconviction assessment tools.
The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 re-named the probation service as The National Probation Service For England and Wales; replaced 54 probation committees with 42 local probation boards; established 100% Home Office funding for the probation service; created the post of Director General within the Home Office and made Chief Officers statutory office holders and members of local probation boards. The paid chairs and members of the probation boards are appointed by the Secretary of State.
The 42 local probation areas are co-terminus with police, courts and crown prosecution areas and have a regional structure which fits that of the Government Regional Offices and Wales. Responsibility for each of the 42 probation areas is vested by parliament in a probation board for that area.
Today the National Probation Service is a nationally directed service with strong local links.It is a law enforcement agency delivering commmunity punishment, supervising offenders to reduce their re-offending and to protect the public. It is an integral part of the criminal justice system.