They found a lack of research into the area which is surprising given the long history of probation supervision, analysing just 13 suitable studies worldwide.
The review of findings shows that the likelihood of reoffending was demonstrably lower for offenders who had been exposed to some type of supervision.
Probation Service boss Vivian Gerien told Gazette.ie that the research confirms what has been known for some time – that probation is an effective community sanction and particularly good at reducing reoffending and reintegrating offenders.
"Several studies carried out here by the Central Statistics Office over recent years have demonstrated good outcomes for probation in Ireland, with over six in ten probationers not reoffending in a three-year follow up period," he said.
"Although the ‘nuts and bolts’ of probation practice can differ between jurisdictions, there are always common features of the work internationally.
"We also know a lot now about what works in motivating and helping offenders to change. But there is a continuing need for more data and research in this area," he said.
That is also why the Irish Probation Service is currently working on a project to benchmark its own practice against the international research evidence, Geiran said pointing out that this will ensure Irish practice is the most effective it can be in helping to create safer communities, with fewer victims.
The individual studies examined in the research were varied in the type of supervision employed, and its effect on reoffending.
Rigorous review
Professor Chris Fox, Director of the Policy Evaluation and Research Unit at Manchester Metropolitan University, said “This rigorous and wide-ranging review provides some evidence that probation supervision is effective at reducing reoffending, but also highlights the need for more research in this area, particularly research in the UK.
“Given current debates about the future of probation, building a strong evidence base to inform decision-making has never been more important.”
Manchester Metropolitan University researcher Andrew Smith Manchester said “Our aim was to identify studies which used research designs which would highlight the causal link between probation supervision and reoffending.
“So, we used stringent search criteria, which ultimately yielded a relatively small number of studies.”
Humanistic approach
Probation supervision includes goals as diverse as monitoring offenders, enforcing court sentencing, ensuring public protection and reducing reoffending. Methods can vary from those that emphasise punishment and risk management to those with a more humanistic and social work-focused approach.
Studies show some support for the effectiveness of training probation workers with cognitive and behavioural skills, and enhanced re-entry programmes which help offenders to develop social networks, gain employment and get access to counselling.
But the report recommends that further research be undertaken to grow the evidence base into what type of supervision is most beneficial, for whom, and under what circumstances.
The need for further research into the impact of probation supervision is particularly apparent in Britain, where community-based approaches to justice have risen in popularity in recent years.
The probation service’s total annual offender caseload increased by 32 per cent between 2001 and 2006.
Private providers were introduced into the England and Wales probation service in 2014 as part of a substantial series of reforms, introducing Community Rehabilitation Companies for low and medium-risk offenders.
Fragmented service
The latest Chief Inspector of Her Majesty’s Probation Inspectorate annual report detailed a two-tier and fragmented service.
The Rapid Evidence Assessment reviewed studies which employed robust research designs, yielding studies originating in the USA, UK, Canada and Australia and published between 2006 and 2016.