Probation and the Policing of the Private Sphere in Britain, 1907-1962 (History of Crime, Deviance and Punishment)

In 1907 the Probation of Offenders Act introduced a system which allowed offenders to be rehabilitated at home under supervision, rather than being sent to prison. This book explores how the probation system was used to regulate the private lives, emotions and behaviours of people in Britain between 1907 and 1962. Access to the private sphere, both physically and psychologically, meant that the probation system was particularly well-suited to offences related to intimate and personal relations. With each chapter focusing on a particular type of offence, including wife assault, attempted suicide, male sexual offences and female prostitution, Settle shows how experiences of the probationers were shaped by the everyday practices of probation, and assesses the extent to which probation was successful in rehabilitating offenders and protecting the public. Also examining the role of probation officers in marriage reconciliation, the book explores how ideas about gender and domesticity were crucial to both the process of rehabilitation and the endeavour to make the home a safe environment in which these domestic ideals could come into fruition. __Probation and Policing of the Private Sphere in Britain__ enriches our understanding of the role of the state in policing, monitoring and promoting the well-being of its citizens, and explores the nuances of probation's dual purpose as a form of social control as well as a social work service designed to help the most vulnerable in society. In 1907 the Probation of Offenders Act introduced a system which allowed offenders to be rehabilitated at home under supervision, rather than being sent to prison. This book explores how the probation system was used to regulate the private lives, emotions and behaviours of people in Britain between 1907 and 1962. Access to the private sphere, both physically and psychologically, meant that the probation system was particularly well-suited to offences related to intimate and personal relations. With each chapter focusing on a particular type of offence including wife assault, attempted suicide, male sexual offences and female prostitution, Settle shows how experiences of the offenders were shaped by the everyday practices of probation, and assesses the extent to which it was successful in rehabilitating offenders and protecting the public. Also examining the role of probation officers in marriage reconciliation, the book explores how ideas about gender and domesticity were crucial to both the process of rehabilitation and the endeavour to make the home a safe environment in which these domestic ideas could come into fruition. Probation and Policing of the Private Sphere in Britain enriches our understanding of the role of the state in policing, monitoring and promoting the well-being of its citizens, and explores the nuances of probation's dual purpose as a form of social control as well as a social work service designed to protect the most vulnerable in society "In 1907 the Probation of Offenders Act introduced a system which allowed offenders to be rehabilitated at home under supervision, rather than being sent to prison. This book explores how the probation system was used to regulate the private and emotional lives of offenders in Britain during this period. Access to the private sphere, both physically and psychologically, meant that the probation system was particularly well-suited to offences related to intimate and personal relations. With each chapter focusing on a particular type of offence including wife assault, attempted suicide, male sexual offences and female prostitution, Settle shows how experiences of the offenders were shaped by the everyday practices of probation, and assesses the extent to which it was successful in rehabilitating offenders and protecting the public. Also examining the role of probation officers in marriage reconciliation, it explores how the system regulated private emotional lives and behaviour. Probation and Policing of the Private Sphere in Britain enriches our understanding of the role of the state in policing, monitoring and promoting the well-being of its citizens, and explores the nuances of probation's dual purpose as a form of social control as well as a social work service designed to protect the most vulnerable in society"-- Provided by publisher List of Figures -- List of Tables -- Chapter One: -- Introduction -- Chapter Two: Marriage Menders: Probation and Marriage Reconciliation -- Chapter Three: Stopping Domestic Violence: Probation and Wife Assault -- Chapter Four: A Safety-net for the Suicidal: Probation and Attempted Suicide -- Chapter Five: Probation and Male Sexual Offences: Gross Indecency, Indecent Assault and Indecent Exposure -- Chapter Six: Recusing 'Fallen Women': Prostitution and Probation -- Chapter Seven: Conclusions and Reflections -- Bibliography -- Index Cover Contents List of tables Acknowledgements Introduction 1 Marriage menders: Probation and marriage reconciliation in England and Wales 2 Stopping domestic violence: Probation and wife assault 3 A safety net for the suicidal: Probation and attempted suicide in Britain, 1907–61 4 Probation and male sexual offences: Gross indecency, indecent assault and indecent exposure 5 Recusing ‘fallen women’: Prostitution and probation 6 Conclusions and reflections Bibliography Index