📢 Minister for Justice Helen McEntee TD today welcomed the publication of the Probation Service Annual Report 2023, which provides a detailed overview of key developments, performance and general statistics on the work of the Service and its significant contribution to the criminal justice system.
The Probation Service Annual Report highlights the enormous work carried out over the course of 2023, during which the Service worked with 16,989 people in the community, 3,175 people in custody and completed more than 11,000 assessment reports.
In 2023, Probation Service staff also managed more than 1,600 community service orders, which amounted to more than 200,000 hours of unpaid work, equivalent to nearly 780 years of time spent in prison, and worth more than €2 million in unpaid work for the benefit of communities nationwide.
Publishing the Annual Report, Minister McEntee said:
“The Probation Service is a vital part of the Department of Justice. It plays an essential role in our criminal justice system by working to provide opportunities for rehabilitation and supporting its clients as they look to build crime-free lives."
Director of the Probation Service, Mark Wilson said:
“The Annual Report 2023 outlines the impact the Probation Service had in addressing offending behaviour and helping to create safer and more inclusive communities.
The Probation Service worked with nearly 17,000 people in the community and completed nearly 11,000 assessment reports, meeting rising demand with dedication and professionalism.’
In keeping with the recommendations of the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024, and through concerted efforts, the Service reported a nearly 30% increase in completed Community Service Assessments in 2023 over 2022’s figures, a total of 2,142.
The 2023 Annual Report also demonstrates significant progress against the Probation Service Strategy and the Performance Delivery Agreement 2023 and Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024. It also advanced commitments across 5 strategic pillars outlined in the 2021-2023 Strategy Action Plan, with particular focus on community sanctions & community service, social inclusion, work in prisons and with young persons, and high-risk offender management.
The Annual Report also highlights the further development and introduction of the Irish Probation Framework, a bespoke model of probation practice which is evidence-informed and underpinned by research. This will help the Probation Service to develop as a more effective, consistent and accountable organisation.
In September 2023, the Probation Service published the IPF Practice Manual, a critical resource that will enable Probation Officers to translate and operationalise the IPF into their everyday practice.
The Probation Service Annual Report 2023 is available here:
🔗 https://lnkd.in/eM9BcAwu