Probation and community sentencing

When an offender receives a Community Order from the court, or leaves prison on Supervised Licence or Order, they will be put under the supervision of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) for a specified period of time.

When is an offender likely to be put on probation supervision?

Offenders are likely to be put on probation supervision when:

• a judge sentences them to a Community Order
• the Parole Commissioners decide that they can be released into the community on Licence
• they are released from prison after serving the custodial part of their sentence

Community sentences

Placing all offenders under custodial sentences (sending them to prison) is not possible or desirable. If an offender doesn't pose a threat to the public, a Community Order can be effective in addressing offending behaviour.

Community sentencing can also allow offenders to make amends for their crime. These include:

• compulsory unpaid work (community service) such as removing graffiti, cleaning up derelict areas or working for charities
• community supervision, which involves meeting regularly with a probation officer to help change attitudes and behaviour
• curfews, where an offender must stay indoors at certain times, they can be electronically tagged to monitor the curfew
• addressing issues such as drug or alcohol abuse, which can lead to offending
• addressing certain types of offending behaviour, such as persistent drink-driving, domestic violence or sex offending

If an offender breaks the requirements of the Community Order they will be returned to court. In some cases offenders may be re-sentenced and sent to prison.

Research has shown that probation is effective. Seven in ten people subject to community supervision are not reconvicted within two years. Three in four people who complete unpaid work (community service) are not reconvicted in two years.

What does probation mean for an offender?

Offenders on probation must comply with rules and requirements specified by their Court Order or Release Licence. If they break these rules, they face enforcement action, which includes the risk of being sent to prison. For example, offenders must attend regular supervision sessions with their probation officers. If they fail to attend without a valid explanation they will be returned to court.

Other requirements can include:

• completing specific programmes
• completing alcohol and drug treatment
• staying in approved premises
• staying away from the area where a crime was committed

Probation officer's role

Probation officers in Northern Ireland work with over 4,000 offenders on any given day. Their role is to:

• challenge offending behaviour
• work towards positively changing an offender's attitude and behaviour
• protect the public

Changes to sentencing in Northern Ireland

Sentencing options available to the courts in Northern Ireland include:

• indeterminate and extended custodial sentences
• supervision of all prisoners on release
• Parole Commissioners to inform decisions about release
• Executive Recall Unit
• strengthened community supervision through the use of electronic monitoring and drug treatment and testing orders

Victims

The Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) has a Victim Information Scheme which is open to any person (or agreed representative) who has been the direct victim of a criminal offence and where the offender in question has received a Probation Supervised Sentence.

The scheme can provide certain information to victims or their representative who register with the scheme.

• Leaflet on Victims Information Scheme (pdf 574kb)

You may also contact the Victims’ Unit on 028 9032 1972.

Contacting the Probation Board

Probation Board for Northern Ireland
80-90 North Street
Belfast
BT1 1LD

Phone: 028 9026 2400
Fax: 028 9026 2470
Email: info@pbni.gsi.gov.uk