Probation Revamp In New Zealand
A Chief Probation Officer role will be created to oversee a revamp of the New Zealand Community Probation Service (CPS). Report from NZPA.
The CPS, which oversees those on community based sentences, will now focus on an offender’s risk to the community and will measure success against clear outcomes. The changes were recommended by the Probation Expert Panel. The panel was recommended by the State Services Commissioner after an Auditor-General’s report identified significant shortcomings with CPS.
Panel chairwoman Paula Rebstock said CPS was “manual driven” with books on procedures parole officers should follow in different circumstances. The system had become complex and it was difficult to write a plan for every possible occurrence, Ms Rebstock told Parliament’s law and order select committee today. “It’s difficult to write rules and procedures for how to achieve public safety.” Rather the risk of an offender to the public needed to be the target of any activity, she said. The level and type of risk was likely to change over time. A clear focus for the service needed to be established with measurable outcomes, Ms Rebstock said. Having measurable expectations and measuring staff against them made it “possible for staff (and management) to be responsible”.
The current system meant managers were checking actions against a set of procedures rather than looking at what had happened. “To hold someone accountable you must be clear about what you are trying to do.” A chief probation officer would be able to independently review whether outcomes were meet if something went wrong and would also be part of efforts for ongoing improvement, Ms Rebstock said … Corrections Minister Judith Collins said the expert panel had found “significant improvements” and a “fundamental rethink”. “The panel has already helped CPS undertake changes which have improved outcomes, but we need to ensure this improvement continues.” The chief probation officer would report directly to the chief executive, would provide additional professional leadership for staff and investigate following a major incident.
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