Probation Orders
What is a Probation Order?
Probation is an order of the court requiring you to be of good behaviour and to co-operate with any conditions or instructions from the court or from the Criminal Justice worker assigned to your case. The order can last for anything from six months to three years. Every order will have an action plan which sets out what you and others will do to prevent you from committing further offences. You will be allowed to remain in the community as long as you keep to the terms of your order.
A Probation Order can contain some additional conditions, such as unpaid work, accommodation, a curfew (saying that you have to be at home between certain times of the day or night), or attendance at drug or alcohol treatment services. As part of your Order you may be required to work with other specialised agencies either as a specific condition added by court or on the instruction of your Social Worker.
You will be supervised by a Social Worker for the duration of the order.
How does it work?
You will regularly meet your Social Worker at our offices or your home. We will focus on practical problems, attitudes, addictions, relationships, and other factors which relate to your offending.
You will also be confronted with the impact of your actions on the victims of crime and on the wider community.
What are the rules?
- You must not be involved in further offending;
- You must attend to all appointments on time;
- You must tell us about any change in your circumstances (address or employment);
- You must comply with any additional conditions imposed by the Court e.g. alcohol or drug counselling, group work, unpaid work, medical/psychiatric treatment, accommodation etc;
- All absences must be supported by a medical certificate or by evidence from your employer.
What if I don't follow those rules?
If you fail to comply with any of the conditions of the Probation Order or if you are convicted of another offence you will be in breach of the Order. This can mean that you have to go back to Court. Then the Sheriff or Justice of Peace can:
- continue your order and impose a fine;
- cancel the order and impose any penalty that could have been imposed at the first instance (including prison sentence);
- change the length of the order;
- add extra conditions.
What if I can't attend appointments?
You must inform your Social Worker in advance and as soon as possible.
What else should I know?
Travel:
It is your responsibility to arrange travel to and from appointments. For journeys longer than three miles each way we can pay your travel expenses. If you are using public transport you will have to show your ticket to the supervisor.
