Practical information & advice

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Read our latest information and advice posts about probation

 

Information

Here you’ll find links to various parts of this site where we have information and useful resources relating to  probation.

I’m on probation – what do I need to know?

Being supervised by probation can be difficult. If possible, try to build a positive relationship with your probation officer. If they feel you are being open and honest with them, they may be more prepared to see you less often and be less restrictive. Useful links include:

Can I change probation officer/area?

There is no standard policy governing changing probation officer so ask to see the protocol in place in your area. Any requests to change probation area will need to be put in writing. Useful links include:

I’m having problems with my probation officer what can I do?

Try to rectify the situation with the person concerned by arranging a face to face meeting. If nothing can be resolved, then you will need to make a formal complaint through your probation office’s complaints procedure. Find a useful link at:

 

Advice

Here you’ll find some of the common advice we give on probation. This is based on what we’ve learnt as a charity, as well as the real-life experiences of people with convictions.

  • Life is a difficult balance when you’re on Probation and/or on licence. Particularly on licence, the potential for recall always hangs over you.
  • As far as is possible, the people that tend to get on best are those who manage to develop positive relationships with their probation officer.

 

Frequently asked questions

Here you’ll find some specific questions that we regularly get about probation and the answers we generally provide. More detailed FAQ’s may be included in the information pages above.

+-I've been treated unfairly by Probation - what can I do?
It’s sometimes a delicate balancing act when you’re dealing with Probation. We always try to encourage people to have positive relationships with Probation, but sometimes, if you’re treated unfairly, you have the right to raise the matter. Wherever possible, you should try and deal with it informally by speaking to the person involved. If that doesn’t work, you can look at making a formal complaint, but you might want to consider if there can be any negative impact on you.

 

Here you’ll find links to useful organisations and websites related to probation that we refer to in our information and advice. Contact details for the organisations listed below can be found here.

 

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