Sunday, June 26, 2011

Worlds Apart

Recent comments by probation and prison staff have boggled my mind.  They illustrate perfectly the gulf that exists between prisoners and their keepers.

These guys give every indication of believing that they help us, supports us, try to get us out.

Prisoners believe that they are inept, dishonest and look for any excuse to keep us in.

Both views are undoubtedly sincere, which is quite depressing.

As this blog partly exists to explore these differing perceptions - welcome.

12 comments:

  1. If they let you go, you'd make their lives hard by criticising them in public. So keeping you in is anyway not inept, is it?
    It's still a waste of my taxes though!

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  2. The word Probation officer is red rag to a bull to me. I have only ever met one decent one (Bobbie Cummines, it is you if your reading this) I dare say there may be one or two well meaning ones, but on the whole, most of them have got my back up. It is like dealing with nethanderals, they are so terminally stupid, they can't even write acurate notes in your file. Which is a worry if your liberty depends on it. They are not to be trusted, anyone with any sense should just tell them what they want to hear. God help the poor people who could really use a helping hand when they get out. By the way, if anyone reading this thinks the problem is me, i would understand why you would think that, but no-one else on this earth has made my blood boil like my old probation officer. Prison staff, some and some, some good ones, some bad. like everywhere, (except probation, all with micky mouse degrees from some third rate college.

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  3. Its the new generation probation officers, or, in my case social workers who I am more worried about. What they get taught in college these days especially psychology is closer to victim blaming than anything. They then come to the 'profession', maybe with huge financial debts due to the high cost of education or supported by their parents, but know little and want to do as they are told which is to put the blame squarely back onto those who they are supposed to be helping.

    These days the gap between social workers (as I have more experience of them than prison staff or probation) is even bigger and from what I can gather, nobody is happy, not the 'clients' nor the staff. Only those reaping in the dollars from costs cuts and privatisation, they are the ones sporting big cheshire cat got the cream smiles, while we suffer.

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  4. A Probation officer's first remit is not to the client as in the old day of assist and befriend etc but to public protection and that can mean anything and is highly subjective. The old days when a PO would undertake the Diploma in Social Work has now been replaced by the Diploma in Probation Studies which is heavily focussed on risk management and public protection. Today, more than ever, probation officers are recalling offenders to prison like its going out of fashion so that the offender will have to start all over again on release if he or she has lost their job, housing etc. I will always advise offenders that probation officers do not exist to help or encourage, they see risk coming out of the woodwork and will recall at the drop of a hat. They are not to be trusted. Don't try and build a relationship with anyone who has the capacity of sending one to prison and never tell them you have problems for too often problems are seen as risks. Too many offenders believe that a smile from their PO and 'how are you' are sincere gestures. No they are not. They're about as sincere as a fox hunter telling you he loves foxes. Just jump through the hoops and tell them what they want to hear. They are not mind readers although they have a notion that they are and can predict the future. They are closer to law enforcement than social work that I wouldn't be surprised if at some time in the future they will be given powers of arrest and search.

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  5. A Probation officer's first remit is not to the client as in the old day of assist and befriend etc but to public protection and that can mean anything and is highly subjective. The old days when a PO would undertake the Diploma in Social Work has now been replaced by the Diploma in Probation Studies which is heavily focussed on risk management and public protection. Today, more than ever, probation officers are recalling offenders to prison like its going out of fashion so that the offender will have to start all over again on release if he or she has lost their job, housing etc. I will always advise offenders that probation officers do not exist to help or encourage, they see risk coming out of the woodwork and will recall at the drop of a hat. They are not to be trusted. Don't try and build a relationship with anyone who has the capacity of sending one to prison and never tell them you have problems for too often problems are seen as risks. Too many offenders believe that a smile from their PO and 'how are you' are sincere gestures. No they are not. They're about as sincere as a fox hunter telling you he loves foxes. Just jump through the hoops and tell them what they want to hear. They are not mind readers although they have a notion that they are and can predict the future. They are closer to law enforcement than social work that I wouldn't be surprised if at some time in the future they will be given powers of arrest and search.

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  6. i think they have in some countries so watch this space! going to see mine on thursday with his loveley fake smile and his patranizing voice if i had the choice i would do bird for however long as long as i didn't have to deal with him.i go to these meetings expecting to get things into prospective but come out feeling worse than ever he sometimes has me thinking i've done this that and the other and i think have i done that? then hang on no i havn't! jesus do i just agree with eveything he said? sometimes i think yes do it get out of here a bit quicker then again no i think not he aint got that proof and this proof and i know i didn't do that! and he certainly don't know what mcat does to you he thinks it's a drug sorry but it's plant fertilizer that when you take it it's twice as bad a cocaine except not as addictive. trying to explain that to someone who does not know anything about or just chooses not to is very hard and frustrating.i just think he aint cut out for the job just my opinion folks

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  7. I really don't think that they care and they take on to many offenders at one time. They actually start getting them mixed up and put someone else's picture in the wrong folder. It seems like it doesn't matter who's life they are making worse by doing that. Plus they never answer there phone nor do they ever call you back. God for bid if you try to call their boss because you get yelled at by a lady in the office and she says he can't help you anyway! Goes to show, if you need help you can't get it! Just how I have been seeing this!

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  8. As a PO, I know there are many of us that do care. In regards to caseloads, we have no control on how many clients administration assigns to us. Our union has gone to admin several times to express our concerns that we are inundated with clients and as a result are unable to case manage effectively. Unfortunately, we are not able to give the support necessary to help them through probation.

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    1. I'd be thrilled if my PO would just speak civilly and politely to me, let alone provide me with any real assistance. I've had three POs in the past four months due to moving (different counties) and EVERY PO I've had speaks in a nasty, hostile, exasperated tone. I have met every condition of my probation and am pleasant and polite when conversing with them. Why are they like this? Do they think that is the only way to display their authority and respect their "power?" I would like to speak with the PO next time about this, saying something like, "Have I done something wrong, you sound very angry right now?" Or would that only make it worse? Thoughts anyone?

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  9. I have been on probation since 2012.... once they get you they do not want to let you go. It is a huge source of income for them to house you and keep you incarcerated. They are not there to keep you out of trouble but to make sure once you make a mistake they can revoke you at the first indiscretion. Some are worse but all get a stipend bonus if they end up sending people back to prison. And yes most people get into that job for the wrong reasons, to them we will never change and always be bad people who must be watched and punished. As someone who has seen it firsthand, our future looks bleak. Young kids locked up at a young age and cannot escape that revolving door... so what does that say for our future? A bunch of young institutionalized youth running around angry and mad at every authority figure they meet? It is sad to see people being treated in such a way, like animals.

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  10. I got on probstion again on 2017. Currentkey awaiting trial, on bail, for yes breaches. I have breached my probation 12 times in the last 3 years. Before this i was outta the system for 12 years.Diffrence? Probation.
    15 years ago the p.o you start with you usually finish with. Since 2017 I have had over half a dozen p.os. The 2 longest ones I developed a relationship buit trust and coukd be real with them. Since then they have all been 20 something outta school kids for lack of a better term. Vwrky little flex in their attitudes, got book smarts but fucking clueless about the real world, cant trust them enough to ask any sorta advice or tLk about anything other tham yes sir/ living up to my conditions sir

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  11. How can a probation officer kick you out of drug court and make you stay in jail for asking for help just because you mention rehab

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