Probation Desk Manual - Department of Social Welfare
Enhancing practices on legislation and policy for children
Highlights
Many of the circumstances that lead children to come into contact with the law are of a social nature. Families facing poverty, substance abuse issues, domestic violence or separation may result in children being out of school, neglected and having to work informally or involved in risky behaviours such as drug use, child labour or sexual abuse and exploitation. When children come into contact with the justice system, the main purpose of any intervention should be to strengthen their resilience and opportunities and provide them with the requisite support that enables them not to re-offend. Probation officers play a key role in supporting child victims, witnesses and offenders, as well as assisting them to reintegrate into their families, schools and communities after contact with the justice system. The probation manual has been developed to provide the framework within which a continuum of probation services is made available to children who come into contact with the law.
