You could be doing some community service or be in jail, but no matter how you view them, the probation service is part of the system and painted with the same brush. The view you take of the probation system should be one of respect for what they can achieve, but with a very large measure of salt! Keep always in your mind that anything you say, can and will be used against you, if you are abusive then you can only expect to go back inside!

I am of the opinion that they are always looking to show their immediate bosses how well they are doing by tripping up clients and sending them back inside. You should give all the required information even the picture they have to ask to take of you when you present yourself on the day you are released, but never ever talk about your plans for the future, your friends and family matters or your night out with the lads! Only the answers you give will enable them to discover what you are doing, so keep it simple.

The actual service they provide to the local population and ex-prisoners, is one of balancing the needs of further protecting the population, but also one of integrating back into society, people traumatised and abused by a very secret and closed organisation. The people not effected by their incarceration are those just planning to go back to crime at the first chance they get, for they will have had no problems with the environment within prison. Probation officers therefore must lead towards the safety of distrust and suspicion.

The future role of the probation service will be to feed a massive network of cctv cameras with the information required to keep a "real-time" eye on released or known offenders. This type of face recognition software is already on trial, only the political will is missing to implement it. How the government uses the information is what must be questioned. Within any controlling group is the danger of self interest, if the power they have, can be used as a tool to influence their own security of employment, (as the armed forces did with the cold war), then the population can become the stepping stones to that end.

Never forget that your integration back into the real world is totally your own choice. Pander to the probation service, show up at the time and place you are supposed to. No drink or drug problem and never ever meet anyone "known " to the police, as this will cause you to be "at risk" of re-offending, then your help in readjusting to civilised life will be available. As in any job, if the person you are dealing with is difficult, then the keenness to offer help goes out the window.

It is not the probation officers problem you are in front of them, it may not be your problem, but never show anger to whoever put you in this position!! As to do so in front of a probation officer is suicide. Never let anger consume you, get even, not revenge. Complain whenever you can, but on paper and to the required Complaints Officer, if enough people complain then things get altered as time and monies are not sufficient for the government to sit on it's hands forever.