Pre-sentence reports and individualised justice: consistency, temporality and contingency

Carr, N.; Maguire, N.

Abstract

This paper reports on selected findings from a study on pre-sentence reports (PSRs) in the Republic of Ireland, entitled Individualising Justice: Pre-Sentence Reports in the Republic of Ireland (Maguire and Carr, 2017). The research was commissioned by the Probation Service and was a small-scale, in-depth study exploring the role of PSRs in sentencing, with a particular emphasis on understanding the process of communication involved from the perspectives of Probation Officers who create the reports and judges who request and receive them. This paper draws on the findings from the research to explore specific aspects of the use of PSRs. It begins by highlighting certain features of the Irish context and then provides a brief overview of the methodological approach before presenting a summary of selected findings, including those relating to the purpose of reports and variation in their use. We explore some of the key themes arising from the research, including consistency, temporality and contingency. We conclude by noting the potential positives of pausing a process, but highlight the need for greater consistency to ensure equitable access across the country.

Citation

Carr, N., & Maguire, N. (2017). Pre-sentence reports and individualised justice: consistency, temporality and contingency. Irish Probation Journal, 14(1), ISSN 1649-6396

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 1, 2017
• Publication Date: Oct 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Aug 31, 2017
• Journal: Irish Probation Journal
• Print ISSN: 1649-6396
• Electronic ISSN: 1649-6396
• Publisher: Probation Service
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 1
• Public URL: http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/45292
• Copyright Statement: Copyright information regarding this work can be found at the following address: http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/end_user_agreement.pdf
• Additional Information: Composition Type: