Cautionary Tales

Jonathan Aitken's ambush and smug appearance on media channels over Easter has served to stimulate quite a lively debate about the use of volunteers and mentors within the criminal justice system. It serves to highlight the whole murky world of politically motivated and funded 'think tanks' that churn out stuff in support of their political chums. But it also serves to confirm how shaky and naive the foundations are of the whole TR omnishambles agenda. 

Of course volunteers have always played an important part in probation work, but they have to be very carefully selected, trained and supported, or things can go seriously wrong. They are most definitely not a cheap or quick fix to solving reoffending and if prospective bidders for our work think that, they will quite quickly realise differently:-   

I am a PO in a high risk team and want to share two examples working with mentors/volunteers.

I was writing a PSR on a man for a violent offence who committed this whilst subject to the at risk period of a previous sentence. The mentor (working in a drugs agency) repeatedly contacted me to provide information of the man's progress and sought to both influence me and to gain insight into my assessment of him. I felt under some pressure from her and a mentor from the much lauded community farm where this man did some work experience. Both were called as character witnesses and his defence counsel indicated I had told lies in my report.

Alerted by the Court team over the lunch recess I drove to the Crown Court and the Judge was made aware the report author was in court. She stated to his counsel "I am not prepared to call the report author a liar" and I was not called. When sentenced to a lengthy custodial sentence the man shouted in open court "F*** Off I never want to see you again, you said this wouldn't happen" to the poor woman. The Judge stated he had pulled the wool over the eyes of everyone except the Probation Officer. I had to comfort her outside the court, she was distraught as they had been in an intimate relationship and she was unaware of much of his offending history. Later, evidence came to light he had been dealing class A drugs in both projects.

The second concerned a volunteer with a church based charity working with asylum seekers who wanted to support a sex offender after he came out on licence. She wanted him to reside in her home because he was a thoroughly decent man. She was a grandmother with her grandchildren visiting her home regularly. He was high ROSH to children and police risk managers and my manager authorised disclosure which she simply refused to believe. She did not have any frame of reference to understand the risk she was inviting into her home. Under his licence he was not allowed to reside with her but her willingness to help him at all costs born out of genuine altruism, really undermined the relationship between PO and client. Eventually we were able to rescue this and he went on to successfully complete his licence having been supported by me to gain suitable independent accommodation and employment. It just is not that simple is it Mr Aitken?

I notice that Pat Waterman, Chair of Greater London Napo Branch, has reminded us of a recent very disturbing case:-

A Cautionary Tale for Mr Grayling

Those of you who have been working in probation for some time will know that a good volunteer can be worth their weight in gold. They can provide the additional help and support that so many of our clients need. But they need to be supervised and are no substitute for professionally trained staff.

Earlier this year, one of my members, Terry Wilson, in giving evidence in the trial of one of his clients accused, with others, of carrying out a murder in a joint enterprise last year said he was shocked to discover that he was in a relationship with his support mentor. The woman, who was also standing trial for Conspiracy to Supply Class A Drugs and Perverting the Course of Justice, had been the client's mentor while he was in Portland prison and on his release.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/10946866.Court_hears_of__shock__over_alleged_murderers_relationship_with_mentor/?ref=erec

Perhaps Mr Grayling needs to think again before he sells off a large part of our work to private companies who, in order to make a profit, are bound to try and cut staff costs by using "so-called" mentors.