ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the evidence provided by research on the topic ‘Who Works’ in probation services; in other words, it explores evidence about the role of practitioner skills and characteristics in effective practice within such services. The evidence is analysed from empirical studies published after 1970. As documented by others (Dowden and Andrews, 2004; May, 1991), a few studies were conducted before the 1970s regarding the place of staff skills and characteristics in effective correctional practice. However, as Smith (2005) noted, most of the discussion about these skills and characteristics was rooted in social work-based theories and values rather than in empirical research. The very few exceptions to this rule were not included in this review (but see Bottoms and McWilliams, 1979; Braithwaite, 1959).
