The Probation Service
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From: Probation Service
- Published on: 24 May 2023
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
The Probation Service protects the public and create safer communities by helping offenders to desist from committing more crime. It has a strong record of reducing re-offending, managing offenders safely in the community, reintegrating prisoners after release and of providing an effective, efficient and value for money service. There are many success stories of offenders who are being helped to reintegrate into society, as well as statistics that show what the service does works.
On behalf of the Department of Justice and in conjunction with the Courts Service, the Irish Prison Service, An Garda Síochána and the wider community, the service provides high quality assessment of offenders and a professional and effective management of services and supports to bring about positive change in the behaviour of offenders.
The role of the service is to ensure that court orders are implemented, to reduce risk of harm and of reoffending by supporting offender rehabilitation, and to make good the harm caused by crime. This is done through evidence-led services and programmes, delivered by dedicated, well trained and skilled staff, and through close co-operation with partner organisations.
The service follows the following core values:
- crime results in hurt and damage to victims and communities and must be met by an effective sanction
- where appropriate, community sanctions are more fitting and effective than custody
- engaging effectively with communities, particularly through a restorative justice model to address crime to enhance public safety and reduce offending patterns
- each person has innate value, dignity and capacity for positive change; and will be treated fairly, openly and with respect
- as with all members of society, offenders must accept personal responsibility for their behaviour
- recognising the importance of accountability, efficiency, effectiveness and value for money in the provision of a quality public service