AC 1.2 Questions
Describe the relationships of the probation service with other agencies in the criminal justice system. [8]
The national probation service (NPS) works with a range of services within the criminal justice system to organise the
release and aftercare of prisoners. One of the first agencies the NPS works with is the HM Prison Service, as the NPS
is responsible for supervising prisoners released on licence as well as working with the Parole board to determine
whether an individual should be granted release. Another agency it works with following this are the Courts, where it
produces pre-sentence reports for judges and magistrates which enables them to chose appropriate sentences. As
well as this, the NPS will go on to supervise offenders who have been given any form of community sentence or
orders from court such as drug testing. Should an offender breach/ be suspected of breaching conditions of their
licence the NPS will inform the court, the offender may be summoned to court for a trial, and it is up to the NPS to
issue this warning to the offender. Should an offender go on to breach their licence, the NPS will go on to work with
the police who can help with legal proceedings such as a recall of the offender. Similarly, if the police place
conditions and restrictions on an offenders release the NPS must oversee that these are met. The NPS commonly
work with PSS officers (Public Safety Service officers). Due to their limited powers, the NPS often rely on the police to
perform tasks they cannot, an example of this being a search (Section 17/18 of PACE) to determine whether and
offender has breached any conditions of their licence/ post-licence. Post-licence the NPS lose a lot of power/
responsibility over the offender and work more closely with the police during this period. One of the last agencies
the NPS works with are Local Authorities. This is to find local support services for an offender as well as locating
suitable accommodation to ensure the offenders welfare as well as protection of members of the local community.
Often meetings will take place within the Milton-agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). It was introduced
in 2001 under the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000, but subsequently strengthened and reinforced in
greater depth by the Criminal Justice Act 2003. It is a body made up of a range of agencies such as the NPS, the
police, prison service and more, to discuss offenders. It acts as a mechanism in which agencies can aim to better
enforce their statutory responsibilities in a coordinated manner to better protect the public as well as the offender.
It allows the NPS to discuss individual offenders between the other agencies and make decisive decisions as to what
to do regarding an offender should action need to be taken.
Describe the relationship between the police, the CPS, and courts as a case proceeds through the criminal justice
system. [6]
A suspect will be arrested by the police if it is discovered they have broken the law. The suspect will be detained and
interviewed (under powers in PACE 1984). After the police investigate and gather sufficient evidence, the police will
consult with the CPS as to what to appropriately charge the suspect and with what using the Full Code Test. The CPS
will go on to build the prosecution case using the evidence collected by the police. The case and evidence will go
back and forth between the defence and prosecution/ CPS to avoid any errors or any failings to disclose evidence.
The CPS will go on to build the prosecution against the defendant. Next, the suspect will be brought before a
Magistrate court (where all cases begin in trial process), where depending on whether it is a summary or indictable
offence will determine if the case is transferred to a Crown Court where they have greater sentencing powers. (At
this stage, a defendant may be released on bail or remain in custody). The CPS will present the prosecution case
against the offender. How a defendant plea’s also influences the next stages in this process. A guilty plea will result
in a sentencing whereas a not guilty plea will lead to a trial. If convicted by the jury, it is up to a court/ Judge to
decide the most appropriate sentence based on mitigating and aggravating factors. The sentence given by the judge
is out of the control of the police and CPS, however, the CPS may appeal if it is believed the defendant has been
given a lenient or unduly sentence. The police furthermore may have to give evidence in court, provide protection
for vulnerable witnesses in court as well as holding and transporting defendants to and from court.
Describe the relationships of the probation service with other agencies in the criminal justice system. [8]
The national probation service (NPS) works with a range of services within the criminal justice system to organise the
release and aftercare of prisoners. One of the first agencies the NPS works with is the HM Prison Service, as the NPS
is responsible for supervising prisoners released on licence as well as working with the Parole board to determine
whether an individual should be granted release. Another agency it works with following this are the Courts, where it
produces pre-sentence reports for judges and magistrates which enables them to chose appropriate sentences. As
well as this, the NPS will go on to supervise offenders who have been given any form of community sentence or
orders from court such as drug testing. Should an offender breach/ be suspected of breaching conditions of their
licence the NPS will inform the court, the offender may be summoned to court for a trial, and it is up to the NPS to
issue this warning to the offender. Should an offender go on to breach their licence, the NPS will go on to work with
the police who can help with legal proceedings such as a recall of the offender. Similarly, if the police place
conditions and restrictions on an offenders release the NPS must oversee that these are met. The NPS commonly
work with PSS officers (Public Safety Service officers). Due to their limited powers, the NPS often rely on the police to
perform tasks they cannot, an example of this being a search (Section 17/18 of PACE) to determine whether and
offender has breached any conditions of their licence/ post-licence. Post-licence the NPS lose a lot of power/
responsibility over the offender and work more closely with the police during this period. One of the last agencies
the NPS works with are Local Authorities. This is to find local support services for an offender as well as locating
suitable accommodation to ensure the offenders welfare as well as protection of members of the local community.
Often meetings will take place within the Milton-agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). It was introduced
in 2001 under the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000, but subsequently strengthened and reinforced in
greater depth by the Criminal Justice Act 2003. It is a body made up of a range of agencies such as the NPS, the
police, prison service and more, to discuss offenders. It acts as a mechanism in which agencies can aim to better
enforce their statutory responsibilities in a coordinated manner to better protect the public as well as the offender.
It allows the NPS to discuss individual offenders between the other agencies and make decisive decisions as to what
to do regarding an offender should action need to be taken.
Describe the relationship between the police, the CPS, and courts as a case proceeds through the criminal justice
system. [6]
A suspect will be arrested by the police if it is discovered they have broken the law. The suspect will be detained and
interviewed (under powers in PACE 1984). After the police investigate and gather sufficient evidence, the police will
consult with the CPS as to what to appropriately charge the suspect and with what using the Full Code Test. The CPS
will go on to build the prosecution case using the evidence collected by the police. The case and evidence will go
back and forth between the defence and prosecution/ CPS to avoid any errors or any failings to disclose evidence.
The CPS will go on to build the prosecution against the defendant. Next, the suspect will be brought before a
Magistrate court (where all cases begin in trial process), where depending on whether it is a summary or indictable
offence will determine if the case is transferred to a Crown Court where they have greater sentencing powers. (At
this stage, a defendant may be released on bail or remain in custody). The CPS will present the prosecution case
against the offender. How a defendant plea’s also influences the next stages in this process. A guilty plea will result
in a sentencing whereas a not guilty plea will lead to a trial. If convicted by the jury, it is up to a court/ Judge to
decide the most appropriate sentence based on mitigating and aggravating factors. The sentence given by the judge
is out of the control of the police and CPS, however, the CPS may appeal if it is believed the defendant has been
given a lenient or unduly sentence. The police furthermore may have to give evidence in court, provide protection
for vulnerable witnesses in court as well as holding and transporting defendants to and from court.
