My sentence now comes to an end (apart from the record which will affect me for years to come).

Unpaid work - Thoroughly enjoyed getting out to different places, doing practical work and meeting new people.

Supervision element (while in Scotland) - Nice to have a reasonable chat with someone about the offence although sometimes turned demeaning when incorrect things were assumed about it. Quickly went down to monthly appointments and this was ideal. The travel there was quite impractical (usually 20 miles away).

Probation element (while in England) - The main OM I had was much more antagonising than my previous criminal justice social worker with messing me about with appointments and then putting the blame on me etc. They didn't seem to bother to learn anything about the offence, so it was basically a tiresome case of checking in and sometimes touching on the offence but again, making assumptions which were wrong. These were usually weekly phonecalls with some f2f appointments and I found it really tiresome having weekly contact after being used to monthly. I had chats with a couple of other OMs and these seemed more reasonable people than my main one.

Other aspects of this situation include the fact that last year probation were directed From On High that they had to see everyone on their caseload regularly: no phone calls or meeting at other venues. Plenty of lifers found themselves back in the office monthly rather than having a phone call every few months. Obviously, the recent situation put a temporary end to face-to-face meetings, but they're starting again in most areas. I'm guessing that in Scotland, where this is dealt with by social workers working for the local authority, the approach is different and more discretion is allowed. Secondly, both types of probation have an incentive to paint a bleak picture of the "service user" so that when their supervision ends, they can paint a much brighter picture and say what a great job they've done. It's not personal, except for the probation officer(s) involved.

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If you are to punish a man retributively you must injure him. If you are to reform him you must improve him. And men are not improved by injuries. (George Bernard Shaw)

Mine usually get the details incorrect but I feel like I have to admit to everything they say or it will not be seen as complying.

For example I would describe my offence as retaliating to someone with online harassment who had done similar to me in the past. I knew them from school, however the OM always focus on my dating site activities - I have never had an issue with anyone on dating sites or any other female than the one from my case.

At the end of the day I do know I done something wrong, but I also know that it wasn't as simple as that with many facts being twisted against me and dragging on the guilt (and adding more things) for years after the offence does not seem constructive for rehabilitation.

"they form an opinion via the words of the "victim", so they do not know the truth"

This is just my being pedantic, but when you say they do not know the truth, this implies there is a truth to be known, when, as you also say, there is no such thing as truth, only perceptions. You also seem to be implying that the victim does not tell the truth and that only the offender really knows the truth.

It's not entirely clear to me whether truth, in the context of this discussion, refers to facts or opinions. There will be some elements of an offence which can be established as facts and other things which can only ever be opinions or perceptions. For those elements which can be proved to be factually correct, they can surely be described as a form of truth. For example, the fact that a person has been convicted of a certain offence, makes it true to state that they have been convicted of the offence.

Hi
I am pleased you understand my thoughts on the reasons for their manner of questioning.

What you must do; and I know from personal experience, is work on your "own quality of life" which will assist in maintaining your self belief. 

I wrote to my OM asking why they use this technique as it is known to be non productive for the individual; but as yet no response. There have and probably still is, cases were the individual has admitted to offences they did not commit purely on the influence of the technique. In other words they became confused on the actual truth because of the constant barrage of accusations and so their recollection is manipulated.
I found the below quote which I try to keep focused on when this type of question has been used. 

There is no such thing as truth as it is the perception of the individual

 

I know they form an opinion via the words of the "victim", so they do not know the truth. However my experience through this process is that other factors provide a bias for their beliefs so an "expansion" of the truth is developed. That is why I remember the quote.

Society suggests I must let go of all my expectations but I disagree, as whilst I have a voice, I have hope.

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope is for tomorrow else what is left if you remove a mans hope.
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This forum supports these words, thank you Unlock and your contributors.

I see the trying to impose control. Situation was at f2f appointment I was told I no longer need to attend f2f appointments due to the pandemic and being low-risk. Following week during the phonecall the second I mentioned I had arranged plans to visit family etc was told I need to come in for an appointment that week, and it HAS to be that week. Explained I couldn't and was sent a letter with the appointment on a date I will be away from the area

My letters and the office I attend have the NPS logo on them but I couldn't be 100% if the staff I have dealt with have been outsourced. Either way I see it as a pen-pushing exercise to keep someone in taxpayer funded employment.


I understand the questioning techniques used to push answers out of me but I will never understand the antagonistic approach to test us, this just leaves me feeling guilty and in a bad mood which means I am less inclined to contribute anything to society and it removes all guilt from screwing the benefit system because the country screwed me.

It would seem the world has gone mad where the small fish such as ourselves are made to feel like a bad person for years over a mistake, yet the real criminals are allowed to destroy livelihoods and profit from it without consequence.

Hi Alan

I am afraid that our experiences are similar. When i relocated it was if they had no history to read. 
I was surprised by the words said to me by the OM after moving that each area does not trust any other area.
In reality  I believe any new authority wants to impose themselves on the new person, the same manner as a new boss coming into a workplace. They are trying to enforce their authority over you.

Do not give in to disappointment else you will never reach the end. maintain the control and discipline you have developed since your offence. Focus on your self belief and do not doubt the character you have rediscovered during your rehabilitation process.

Remember there is always a reason or process being followed to test/stress you to see if you will revert to offending again. They will not accept responsibility for their "regressive interview techniques" as being an influence if you do. 
 

Your rehabilitation has shown you the truth about yourself. You can listen to your doubters but you do not have to believe them 

Society suggests I must let go of all my expectations but I disagree, as whilst I have a voice, I have hope.

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope is for tomorrow else what is left if you remove a mans hope.
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This forum supports these words, thank you Unlock and your contributors.

Just for interest, and without giving away your location, were you dealt with by the National Probation Service or one of the 21 outsource companies? 

Update: I'm still very disheartened with my experience of probation with moving area from Scotland to England. In my old area the OM/social worker was very understanding and helpful but in the new one it seems a mix of incompetence, messing me about and trying to antagonise on purpose.

In my previous area my compliance was rewarded with the meetings going down to once every few weeks but disappointingly in my new area the phonecalls have remained weekly for 7 months, and now I have started having face-to-face appointments again as well. I was told that since I was low-risk I would not need to attend the office in the near future, but then the following week I was told I have to go again. I explained that I already have a holiday booked and planned on the specific week but this just seemed to make them more determined to ruin my plans and force me to come in for a pointless 2 minute chat like all of the other ones. Nothing constructive has came from my experience in the new area other than preventing me from moving on from my offence which was 4 years ago.

I feel this is a shame as the unpaid work and previous social-worker interaction element of my sentence was a much more constructive and rehabilitive experience, whereas probation in the new area carries a lot more negative feelings such as frustration and causing me to hate the system.