ABSTRACT
This chapter considers probation and its relationship with prison. After a brief account of the characteristics of the prison population, not forgetting prisoners held awaiting trial, probation's work with serving prisoners will be discussed. The chapter also considers organisational arrangements intended to achieve the resettlement of released prisoners. It suggests that a different focus – attending to rights to rehabilitation no less than to risks of reoffending – would represent a sounder ethical base for probation's work. Remand prisoners are often overlooked in discussions of imprisonment, but plainly the usual justifications of punishment cannot apply to those who must be presumed to be innocent. The notion of the rehabilitative prison gained new political energy as part of the Coalition Government's 'rehabilitation revolution', and policy documents and reviews have developed the theme. Changes in the role of the prison-based probation officer mirrored changes in the priorities and policies for probation work in the community.
