NCJ Number
86626
Date Published
1981
Length
67 pages
Annotation
The study identifies individuals and organizations beyond the sentencing court and outside the probation services in England who have access to social inquiry reports, and investigates the effects that the reports may have on the decisionmaking process.
Abstract
Ninety-four percent of junior attendance centers indicated that they receive social inquiry reports, which are prepared by probation officers, on all or some of the boys who are subject to attendance center orders. Eighty-six percent of the police officers in charge of the centers considered background information concerning the offender's home, behavior, and attitudes to be either important or very important. Social inquiry reports are also available to borstal allocation units. In training borstals, the social inquiry report has some influence in decisions regarding the nature of accommodation, and it is used in connection with home leave, discharge plans, and reviews. The report is frequently used as a major source of information in development of the Young Offender Data Form. The Department of Health and Social Security and the Home Office also use the reports in allocation decisions. In addition, the reports are widely distributed throughout the prison system. Reconviction prediction scores are determined through report information, and some solicitors and barristers retain social inquiry reports for future use. About 25 footnotes and several tables are included; data forms and documents are appended.