Abstract

In recent decades, the Probation Service has been subject to almost continuous change. The uncertainty and upheaval surrounding the creation of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) in the period since 2003 has, however, been of a different order. In this chapter, we examine some of the effects these political and legislative changes have had upon management styles and upon the staff concerned. Three principle sources of material are used: the available literature, research undertaken specifically for this chapter ² and the authors’ own experience spanning the period under discussion.