The end of the Probation Service

I had a bad day at the office today, had to restrain myself from reacting aggressivley with an offender who called me an ****hole.

He was not happy becuase he got a bad report (from me) and was sent to prison for a wee-while, he thought my job was to say nice things about him and tell the court that he was just misunderstood! Advised him that he was getting confused and that G4S were not running the service just yet.

Give it 12 months and then he will get a trainee on

That kinda sucks if you think about it. kinda shows that he was ready to blame everything on being "misunderstood". It riles me when people blame society for their own mistakes, or they way they turned out.

Seems to mean that he thinks he can do whatever he likes because he didn't get the attention he deserved as a child.

Saw a docu type thing on the telly the other night about probation officers. Must admit I thought it was more just checking up on minor offenders Couldn't believe the abuse you guys have to put up with, and this one chap was upset because he had to deal with a convicted pedo, but still had to remain professional, even when this pedo was being brutally honest about his past behaviour.

Take my hat off to you, and god help us all when G4S do take over

Have you ever been and worked in a prison, seen all of what happens, what they get, etc?

I worked in a YOI (open Cat D) and Adult Prison (CAT C with a small portion of CAT D) for 9 years and you would be shocked if you saw the environment and resources that the guy who run over and killed your kid got whilst in prison. There is little wonder why most don't mind a sentence; 3 good meals a day, warm bed with cosy duvet...purleease don't tell me you thought they had those nasty rough grey blankets!! Guess what, you get those when you're in the TA. Marvellous.....you offer your part time services for the army reserves and get all the measly basics but in prison you get a duvet, clean clothes WASHED AND IRONED FOR YOU, SKY TV with the ability to upgrade and watch premium boxing matches for example, pool and snooker tables, hot showers, you name it. Oh and they get paid money for working, and people can send you in wodges of money to spend on goodies from the tuck shop....fags, sweets, crisps, biscuits, shower gels, deo, oh yes, and baby oil, mustn't forget that.

Nope never seen the inside of a prison. Remember those rough blankets though, and we weren't allowed duvets for the first few years

Was kind of hoping Prison was more Shaw Shank Redemption meets Porridge, rather than all the stories we keep hearing of soft time, free perks and playstations

Maybe bring back transportation of prisoners? Could send them to Somalia, or maybe Afghanistan, after all did wonders for Oz