Probation Statistics Part 2

1. Crime, Justice & Security Statistics Probation Statistics Part 2 Produced in Collaboration between World Bank Institute and the Development Data Group (DECDG)

2. Probation Staff numbers – general • To work out the efficiency of the probation service it is important to know the number of staff employed, by type: Probation Officers, assistants, ancillary staff, etc • Staff numbers need only be collected once a year. eg see the next slide, with staff numbers collected in broad categories for each probation office • Senior Probation Staff at national HQ need to know how well their resources are spread throughout the country • They also need to know how many vacancies there are • This form will also enable senior staff to answer UN queries about the number of probation staff and show how their country compares with others • Other forms could be devised on an annual basis, to record the amount of resources in each probation offices: eg computers

3. Probation Staff data collection

4. Manpower Trends

5. Summary and individual returns • Up to now we have discussed summary data sent in by the probation offices monthly. • However, more detail would be available if an individual form could be set up to capture data from each completed supervision. • This would be more efficient if computers were available but it is possible to do it manually • It could be carried out for all cases or for only a sample.

6. Example of individual form – supervisions of theft cases

7. Use of Information Technology • Good computer equipment will enhance the statistics that can be collected and analyzed about the Probation Service. • The small numbers involved in the probation area mean that a small IT application only is needed • However, statistics development should not wait on good IT • Statistics collection, as described in this Module can be carried out with existing technology, using manual returns • PCs, with WORD, EXCEL, Internet explorer and OUTLOOK are perfectly adequate for the majority of probation statistics that developing countries will need for the next decade.

8. Introducing Good IT systems • IT training for statistics should consist of basic understanding of EXCEL, ACCESS and WORD, rather than more complex packages such as SPSS • The first priority is to record basic registers on EXCEL • Training is then needed in the use of the Internet • Finally ACCESS could be used for new collection instruments • Although statistics can be produced without IT systems, eventually all probation offices will introduce IT systems to improve their general management. • The system will seek to record case papers and decisions, schedule cases, deal with management information • When this happens it is important that the need for statistics is fed in, at an early stage, to the user requirement for such a management system.

9. Those starting Court Orders and release supervision by the Probation Service, England

10. Terminations of Court orders by reason, 2009 (percentages), England

11. Court reports written by the probation service, England, 2009

12. Summary of Probation Statistics • Statistics should be collected at probation office level • Statistics should be collected on each area of work: and include workload, outcome and resources statistics • First priority should be given to Monthly summaries • Statistics can be produced without computers and should not wait for IT developments or investment • When computers are introduced for management purposes, statistics should be recorded for each offender and analysed via Access databases • Regular publication of statistics should take place. • Classifications should be the same as for police, courts, etc