Victims of Crime and the Probation Service

Information

As a victim, you may come into contact with the Probation Service.

The Probation Service prepares reports for the Courts to assist judges in determining appropriate sentences. It also prepares reports for the Parole Board. Probation Officers also work in Prisons as well as the Children Detentions Schools and Centres to address offending and related issues, and to assist in the settlement of prisoners on release.

The Probation Report

The "probation report" will describe the offender, his or her family circumstances and his or her lifestyle, including whether or not he or she is an alcoholic or drug addict.

It will consider the attitude of the offender - whether he or she has accepted responsibility for his or her actions. It will discuss whether the offender is committed to improving his or her lifestyle or behaviour, for example, if he or she is serious about attending a drug treatment programme.

The probation report will discuss whether an offender is suitable for a non-prison sentence like community service. It may suggest conditions for a non-prison sentence, for example, that the offender move away from an residential area where he or she was getting into trouble.

In sopme circumstances the Probation Service may, at the request of the judge, prepare a victim impact report for the Court.

The probation report will help the judge decide what type of sentence to impose on the offender.

Supervision

If the court decides that a non-prison sentence should be imposed, the Probation Service may supervise the offender in his or her treatment programmes and the community service he or she does.The Probation Services will supervise an offender on supervised release from custody.