‘Helping, hurting, holding and hands off’: preliminary findings from an oral history of probation client experiences of supervision in Ireland

Kennefick, L., Healy, D. and Wade, N. (2022) ‘Helping, hurting, holding and hands off’: preliminary findings from an oral history of probation client experiences of supervision in Ireland. Irish Probation Journal, 19, pp. 38-55.

Abstract

This paper presents preliminary findings from the ‘Histories of Probation in Ireland’ project which aims to provide an extensive, detailed account of Irish probation practice from the 1960s onwards. The core objective of the paper is to highlight patterns emerging from client participants’ lived reality of probation, which is achieved through the application of an oral history methodology. The paper provides an overview of relevant literature, before outlining the research design and explaining the methodological approach of the project. Findings are presented from interviews with current and former probation clients who experienced probation in the 1980s up to present day. A thematic framework of analysis, ‘helping, hurting, holding, and hands off’, is employed in order to understand the individual and collective voices experiencing probation in Ireland during the timeframe.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The authors would like to thank the Probation Service for their support and assistance with this project, the individuals who shared their probation experiences with us, and the Fitzpatrick Foundation and the Department of Justice who funded the research.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Kennefick, Dr Louise
• Authors: Kennefick, L., Healy, D., and Wade, N.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Law
• Journal Name: Irish Probation Journal
• Publisher: Probation Service, Probation Board for Northern Ireland
• ISSN: 1649-6396
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 Probation Service, Probation Board for Northern Ireland
• First Published: Irish Probation Journal 19:38-55
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced with the permission of the publisher

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