{"id":3556,"date":"2026-01-21T12:37:47","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T12:37:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mmuperu.co.uk\/bjcj\/?page_id=3556"},"modified":"2026-01-21T14:13:36","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T14:13:36","slug":"the-role-of-probation-and-the-third-sector","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mmuperu.co.uk\/bjcj\/the-role-of-probation-and-the-third-sector\/","title":{"rendered":"The role of probation and the third sector"},"content":{"rendered":"

Holly Blakesley, MA Student, University of Manchester<\/em><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Independent Sentencing Review (ISR), authored by David Gauke, was commissioned as a reaction to the ongoing prison capacity crisis across England and Wales. This follows a series of emergency measures taken by the Labour government in 2024, to ease prisons numbers and overcrowding in a prison system that was almost at capacity (Brader, 2024). Whilst this government took both short term and long-term approaches to reduce prison population numbers, there remains sufficient work to correct years of pressure on a failing prison system. The suggestions within the ISR could change the prison sector forever and alter the way society treats offenders, but this requires be large scale institutional changes made to probation, prisons, as well as the courts. As a masters student studying criminology, and as someone that has spent the last few years volunteering in prisons, I provide my unique outlook on the recommendations put forward in chapter seven.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

My Experience<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reading this review as a criminology masters student and as someone who has undertaken volunteering in different prison settings, the report felt like a breath of fresh air, and something that could change the criminal justice system in a positive way. Some of the recommendations of review are focused on the overreliance on custodial sentences and how other alternatives, such as community sentences and rehabilitative focused care, would be more effective to combat reoffending rates \u2013 something that research has evidenced for many years (Yukhenko, 2019). Through my first-hand experiences, I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly of prison life. As an undergraduate student, I volunteered for around 150 hours in a prison in the North West, based within a third-sector run rehabilitative program that focused on post-release reintegration, thus focussed on controlling aggressive behaviours, and rebuilding relationships. From my time there, it was evident that many of the men should not have been in prison and that alternative punishments would have been for more suitable for their needs. This reaffirmed to me that prison in its current form did more to reinforce criminogenic behaviours – many of the men I met said their criminality, mental health and substance misuse had got worse since their incarceration. Something that will sit with me for the rest of my career.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 7: The role of the Probation Service<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chapter 7 of the review highlights the role of the Probation Service, in supporting offenders as an alternative to custody. Alternatives to custodial sentences will inevitably increase the pressure on the Probation Service. The ISR also suggests that the service prioritises its resources to manage offenders that fall within the highest risk category, many of whom also have the most complex needs. Like many of the criminal justice institutions, the Probation Service is operating under many financial constraints.<\/p>\n

In April 2025, research highlighted a number of preexisting issues within the service across England and Wales. Shortfalls were discovered within the service, which found pockets of probation to be inadequate and in need of serious improvement (Jones, 2025). Other evidence, documented a gap of 10,000 staff members which have impacted their work and their service users\u2019 rehabilitation and care (Kotecha, 2025). These shortfalls will surely only \u00a0get worse if community based sentences, which need even more resources from the Probation Service are implemented without significant investment from Government. The review must consider the improving the current state of the Probation Service and ensure that it is excelling in its current roles, before adding caseloads of work to their already overflowing services.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Recommendation 7.1<\/strong><\/p>\n

Recommendation 7.1 recognises the strain probation faces and outlines the importance of leveraging the use of the third sector to manage an expanding caseload. Drawing on the skills of the third sector and the people that already work within these organisations to help probation colleagues provide the additional support required to work with offenders in the community.<\/p>\n

From my experience, the third sector offers a different form of rehabilitative care, which can often be more effective when working with offenders. This prospers positive relationships between offenders and the volunteers, centred around hope, reintegration and finding a sense of belonging in society, post-release. As someone who has volunteered in prisons, I witnessed the positive effect this can have on offenders. Many of the men I worked with commented on how working with volunteers was different<\/em> to working with paid professionals. They appreciated that volunteers choose to spend time with them, and they enjoyed having an outsiders<\/em> input on certain situations. For some of the men, it instilled hope that people would accept them on the outside upon release, which is invaluable for rehabilitation and reintegration.<\/p>\n

Research has also documented the positive effect volunteers have within the prison system and have found that voluntary work has enhanced the diversity of the criminal justice system (Wu<\/em> et al<\/em>., 2023) Their work often reduces isolation and provides offenders with skills to create more pro-social networks which are shown to be effective in reducing the risk of reoffending (Meek et al., <\/em>2010 via Parkes et al., <\/em>2022). Not only is the work that volunteers undertake effective in reducing reoffending and supporting offenders but also comes at a minimal cost (Neuberger, 2009). One of the main issues facing the criminal justice system is a lack of funding. Agencies and institutions are running on low funds leaving the most vulnerable to fall between the cracks and their needs unmet<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Unfortunately, like most other sectors, third sector organisations are also subject to scare resources but are keep afloat by volunteers that see the value in the work that they do. For example, I recently started volunteering with a third sector organisation based in Manchester called Back on Track. Back on Track provide community learning and holistic support for adults experiencing multiple disadvantage, including ex-offenders. Part of their service is the Integrated Resettlement Programme (IRS), which works with people on probation to help improve their mental health and well-being. The work they do is tailored to individual needs, and seen as invaluable within the local probation teams that don\u2019t have the capacity to provide this level of care. Back on Track offers a bespoke service ran by members of the community and volunteers, with their intake of ex-offenders often leaving with lifelong skills that they can carry through their life in society.<\/p>\n

The ISR also suggests that the voluntary sector should assist offenders during community-based sentences, and that they can carry out the main body of the rehabilitation. Whilst not wholly different to the rehabilitative role they have taken previously, it will be a much bigger strain on their resources. I have concerns regarding their ability to work as the main service during a sentence, due to issues with lack of funding and resources they currently have available. In one report by Kanda and Audley (2024), a third sector organisation provided their services to an Offender Management Unit in a prison, which allowed them to take a hands on approach to offender care. Their work in this OMU allowed for the continuing of care of offenders and enabling a rapport between volunteers and offenders. This work showed that whilst the third sector organisation was able to work effectively during the offenders\u2019 sentences, they need ample support from HMPPS and the Ministry of Justice to be effective and successful in implementing sentence support.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In my opinion, these organisations are vital to the rehabilitation of offenders, but without adequate investment, they will cease to be able to continue this level of care. The Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) announced in July 2025 that due to issues linked to the cost-of-living crisis in the UK, and inflation rate increases, the charity has been forced to cut their services back. This cutting of services greatly effects the output of the organisations, and it is imperative that if these recommendations are looked into, we must also be prepared to increase financial support for TSOs (Keen-Downs, 2025).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chapter 7 is, in my opinion, one of the most poignant chapters in the review, as it is a cause that I believe strongly in, and one that I know could improve the criminal justice system for the better. As mentioned, the work volunteers and third sector organisations do is invaluable for offenders and is something that paid institutions could never live up to. However, to have the most effective use of TSOs, there must be the right access to financial aids and support for the government, and with this, TSOs can reach their full potential.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Contact: hollyblakesley@yahoo.co.uk<\/p>\n

References<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Back on Track (2025). [Online] Available at: https:\/\/www.backontrackmanchester.org.uk\/criminaljustice\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Accessed 09\/11\/2025<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Kanda, S., Gomes. M., & Audley. J. (2024) The Future of Probation. [Online] Available at:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.catch-22.org.uk\/resources\/the-future-of-probation\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Accessed 09\/11\/2025)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Meek, R., Gojkovic, D. & Mills, A. (2010) The role of the third sector in work with<\/p>\n

offenders: the perceptions of criminal justice and third sector stakeholders.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Keen-Downs. A. (2025) Tough financial outlook leads to some service reductions at Pact. [Online] Available at:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.prisonadvice.org.uk\/latest\/news\/tough-financial-outlook-leads-to-some-service-reductions-at-pact\/<\/a><\/p>\n

(Accessed 09\/11\/2025)<\/p>\n

Ministry of Justice, Home Office & Attorney General\u2019s Office, (2009).\u00a0The Government\u2019s response to \u2018Volunteering across the Criminal Justice System\u2019: Joint response from the Ministry of Justice, the Home Office and the Attorney General\u2019s Office<\/em>. [online] UK Parliament. Available at:\u00a0http:\/\/data.parliament.uk\/DepositedPapers\/Files\/DEP2009-0626\/DEP2009-0626.pdf<\/a>\u00a0[Accessed 14 November 2025].<\/p>\n

Wu, L., Sheehan, R. & Pinto da Costa, M., 2023.\u00a0Volunteering in prisons: a systematic review and narrative synthesis<\/em>.\u00a0Public Health<\/strong>,<\/strong> 220, pp.155\u2013164. Available at:\u00a0https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.puhe.2023.04.008<\/a><\/p>\n

Yukhnenko, D., Blackwood, N., & Fazel, S., 2019.\u00a0Recidivism rates in individuals receiving community sentences: A systematic review<\/em>.\u00a0PLoS One<\/strong>, 14(9), e0222495.
\nAvailable at:\u00a0https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0222495<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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