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
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.
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.
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.
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: 028 90262400 You will be contacted by the Complaints Officer within 5 working days. PBNI June 2013
Useful contacts Belfast offices Assessment Unit, HQ 028 9026 2400 Inspire Project, North Street 028 9026 2515 ISU, Alderwood 028 9064 4953 ISU, Great Patrick Street 028 9029 6010 Programme Delivery Unit 028 9033 3332 Public Protection Team 028 9025 9576 Victim Information Scheme 028 9032 1972 North - Antrim Road 028 9075 7631 East - Newtownards Road 028 9073 9445 South - Ormeau Road 028 9064 7156 West - Andersonstown Road 028 9060 2988 Offices outside Belfast Armagh 028 3752 5243 Ballymena 028 2565 2549 Coleraine 028 7035 3141 Dungannon 028 8772 2866 Enniskillen 028 6632 4383 Lisburn (includes Youth Justice Team) 028 9267 4211 Crawford Square, Londonderry 028 7126 4774 Limavady Road, Londonderry 028 7134 6701 Magherafelt 028 7963 3341 Newry 028 3026 3955 Newtownards 028 9181 7778 Omagh 028 8224 6051 Portadown 028 3833 3301 Prison Teams H M P Maghaberry 028 9261 6772 H M P Magilligan 028 7775 0434 H M YOC & P Hydebank 028 9049 4100 PBNI Headquarters 80/90 North Street BELFAST, BT1 1LD T: 028 9026 2400 F: 0300 123 3290 E: info@pbni.gsi.gov.uk www.pbni.org.uk