ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses explicitly on desistance from offending and, in particular, deals with a discussion of the role that probation supervision may have played in helping some probationers to desist. The largest group of probationers were those who, on the basis of their self-reports throughout their orders, were classified as ‘showing signs of desisting’ or who were reported not to have offended at all whilst on probation. Of all 199 probationers interviewed, 46 per cent fell into these categories. From the officers’ reports, the corresponding figure is even greater: 70 per cent of the sample were classified as either ‘showing signs of desisting’ or having avoided offending altogether.
