ABSTRACT
Since the 1980s, successive governments have sought to reposition the probation service in England and Wales from its welfarist origins into an offender management and public protection agency. Transforming Rehabilitation has its roots in the market reforms in England and Wales introduced during the Thatcher governments. Although the Labour government had been opposed to the privatisation of public services whilst in opposition, and promised to renationalise those prisons run by private corporations if elected, during its tenure the private-prison building programme was accelerated. Under the legislative provisions, the existing structure of 35 Probation Trusts were to be replaced by a significantly smaller National Probation Service whose responsibilities were limited to the management of high-risk offenders, public protection, compliance and enforcement issues and the production of court reports. The Transforming Rehabilitation reforms introduced new payment incentives in order to provide those delivering rehabilitative services with the flexibility to do what works and freedom from bureaucracy.
