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

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.