Voluntary After‐Care and the Probation Service: A Case of Diminishing Responsibility

Abstract

In a Home Office funded study of the voluntary after‐care of short‐term prisoners, the authors found that this area of probation service activity had decreased markedly in volume and perceived priority. This article explores the history of voluntary after‐care; the reasons for its decline; the haracteristics and needs of potential users of this kind of service, and the manner in which it is still provided by some probation areas. Many short‐term prisoners are recidivist offenders facing major social and personal difficulties, and it is argued that there are good reasons for making some provision for this group.