TNAG-0689-FCO40-838-Introduction-of-community-service-orders-into-penal-system-o-1977 — Page 11

C

Offenders

3.

The most important points are:-

no real

inroads into leisure time as offenders

in general did not have much else to do;

grateful for avoiding prison; fair

sentences; provided a routine and

interest to unemployed offenders;

difficulty in understanding value of

work to the community; mixed well with

voluntary agency personnel; felt it had

been worthwhile and felt it was a more

positive sentence than imprisonment.

D Work Providing Agencies

Finding the right type of work

difficult i.e. on Sunday and within the

offender's own area and voluntary

agencies also felt threatened by using

offenders.

Overall co-operation as

long as a careful asessment and

matching of offender and work are

carried out.

E Community Service Officers

(i.e. One probation officer per area

responsible for the day to day running

of the scheme). Responsibility for

the scheme should remain with the

Probation and After Care Service and

past experience useful, but feel

isolated from rest of Probation Service.

Not available.

Not available but care would have

to be taken over placement of

offenders.

S.W.D.

Reservations about amount of suitable

work available in HK and not thought

that SWD Probation Officers should

be given the responsibility of

implementing the Orders.

Prisons

Department after care staff would

be more appropriate.

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