Pre-Sentence Report for the Court

Transcription

1 Pre-Sentence Report for the Court This leaflet will explain to you what a Pre-Sentence Report for the Court is, how the report is written and why it is needed. Making local communities safer by challenging and changing offenders behaviour

2 What is a Pre-Sentence Report? If you have been convicted of an offence at court a Probation Officer will write information about you in a report for the Court. This report is called a Pre-Sentence Report or a PSR. The report is used to assist the court in deciding what the sentence will be in your case. You will be offered the opportunity to read the report. If you think anything in the report is incorrect, tell your Probation Officer or Solicitor and he/she can tell the Court. How is the Pre-Sentence Report written? You will have an interview with a Probation Officer there may be more than 1 interview, 1 in a probation office and 1 in your home. A Probation Officer will arrange a time to interview you. If you are under 18 years old your parents or guardians will be with you.

3 You must tell the Probation Officer if you cannot make it to the interview by telephoning them or their office. It is up to you to make sure you can go to the interview so that the report can be written for the Court in time. The Probation Officer will have to tell the Court if you do not turn up for an interview and a report cannot be written. What does the Court want to know? The Court wants to know and the Probation Officer will ask you about: What you think about what you did and what you think about the victims of your offence Other offences you have been convicted of Your personal circumstances for example, your family, any addictions or difficulties you have and whether or not you are working. To get all of the information for the report the Probation Officer may have to talk to other people who know you. They will tell you who they need to talk to.

4 The Probation Officer will also talk with you about some of the sentences the Court may choose to give you and what these would mean. The Court will decide what the sentence will be. Who sees the PSR? You The Probation Officer Your solicitor The prosecution lawyers The Judge or Magistrates If you go to prison or Juvenile Justice Centre or Young Offenders Centre the person in charge there The victim in your case may get information about your sentence only, NOT any personal information about you.

5 What is expected of you? Probation Officers work hard to provide you with an excellent service, and deserve to be treated, as they treat you, with respect and courtesy. Your Probation Officer will not accept acts of violence, physical aggression, threats or verbal abuse. If you behave in any of these ways the police may be told and legal action could follow. We may not interview any one who we believe to be behaving in an unacceptable way, or whom we believe is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. What do you do if you are not happy with how you have been treated by the Probation Board? You can speak to the Probation Officer, their Manager or contact: The Complaints Officer, PBNI Headquarters 80/90 North Queen St, Belfast, BT1 1LD T: You will be contacted by the Complaints Officer within 5 working days. PBNI June 2013

6 Useful contacts Belfast offices Assessment Unit, HQ Inspire Project, North Street ISU, Alderwood ISU, Great Patrick Street Programme Delivery Unit Public Protection Team Victim Information Scheme North - Antrim Road East - Newtownards Road South - Ormeau Road West - Andersonstown Road Offices outside Belfast Armagh Ballymena Coleraine Dungannon Enniskillen Lisburn (includes Youth Justice Team) Crawford Square, Londonderry Limavady Road, Londonderry Magherafelt Newry Newtownards Omagh Portadown Prison Teams H M P Maghaberry H M P Magilligan H M YOC & P Hydebank PBNI Headquarters 80/90 North Street BELFAST, BT1 1LD T: F: E: info@pbni.gsi.gov.uk