I notice that former US Providence Municipal Judge Frank Caprio has died and social media is full of warm tributes and notable videos of a truly remarkable man and his compassion and love for all who came before him for judgment and sentence. It reminds me of probation's beginnings borne of Christian concern as Police Court Missionaries. It reminds me of advise, assist and befriend, indeed of Befriending Funds that officers could dispense at will and indeed of the role and importance of Social Enquiry Reports and later PSR's. It reminds me of Social Work training and community involvement. It reminds me of compassion and care. We have lost so much...
I once saw a District Judge quietly pass a bank note on to a homeless man who appeared before him in custody. This was in a court that prided itself on humiliating Defendants and staff alike through its abuse of position. That one simple gesture demonstrated more compassion and empathy than all the other Magistrates put together. Many people confuse punishment of the sentence with punishment of the person as an individual and thereby lose their sense of humanity.
ReplyDeleteIn probation all the tools except the hammer are broken
ReplyDeleteI really could weep for the probation service that was but it's gone and it isn't coming back. Compassion and rehabilitation are just words now and out of fashion.
ReplyDeletesox
Compassion as with professionalism has been declining for decades. It's been replaced by individualism, a target driven society. We've become individual units rather then a social collective.
DeleteFor decades too, people have been writing about this decline and it's inevitable consequences.
Todays post reminded me of an article I read some years ago. I managed to find it again by typing into Google "the decline of Compassion in society". There's a lot more reading on the subject then I first imagined.
https://lauragrey.com/?p=1677
'Getafix
News reaches me that the Napo ballot turnout was 44.82% thus shy of the required 50%. No surprise at all to many of us due to the fundamentally different demographic that make up todays probation workforce.
ReplyDeleteI believe over 97 per cent voted for action short of strike over 90 per cent for strike but not enough Napo members voted. Appalling result so angry.
ReplyDeleteLooks like we're going to get the pay rise many deserve....
DeleteI wish I was 22 and still living with my parents. Likely my salary would be sufficient too!