Latest news with #Probation
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
East Midlands probation services rated inadequate by inspectors
Probation services in the East Midlands have been judged inadequate by government inspectors.A report by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP), published on Thursday, said work to protect people from harm - particularly women and children who were the victims of domestic abuse - was not good said its findings were based on a review of 330 cases of offenders serving sentences in the community or on licence across Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire Derbyshire and Ministry of Justice said it had already taken action to bolster safeguarding to protect the public across the region. Dave Argument, HMIP's head of the Probation Inspection Programme told the BBC: "Principally the quality of work to protect the public from harm just wasn't good enough."He said inspectors had found poor quality risk assessments and management plans for offenders across the region."We were particularly concerned about the safeguarding of children and in terms of domestic abuse - so the risk that men on probation pose to women," Mr Argument said. 'Performing heroics' On average each probation officer (PO) had 34 cases assigned to them and each probation service officer (PSO) had 41 cases, the reports said."It's very important for probation leaders and for government to recognize that the probation service is also under immense strain," Mr Argument Argument said probation staff were found to be wanting to do a good job but were "working with caseloads that are far too great and with simply too much to do".He said many staff were "performing heroics" in a system under strain. Within its overall rating of inadequate, the HMIP report concluded regional leadership and staffing in the probation service requires judged the service's work on public protection and prevention of re-offending was report also found the regional service's court work was inadequate with improvements needed to improve the advice to magistrates and judges passing handling of unpaid work cases were also inadequate, inspectors said, though placements were "generally of good quality, with opportunities to pay back to local communities".The report said regional probation leaders had established good relationships with local prisons but high prison populations were among factors limiting the opportunities for probation staff to have contact with inmates before their release. Recommendations Inspectors rated the work the regional probation service did to support victims of crime as good - particularly those who had suffered from violence or serious sexual said they identified clear strengths on workforce planning which was having an impact on staffing levels, which were beginning to improve and stabilise. In general, staff reported a positive and inclusive work culture, and wellbeing support, such as trauma risk management, was in place, the report said. The report made 11 recommendations to the regional service and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).These include improving the quality of court reports to inform sentencing and to work with sentencers to ensure that advice from probation court staff is obtained has been urged to ensure sufficient resources are allocated to the region to enable effective and timely serious further offence reviews.A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "The government inherited a criminal justice system in crisis, placing significant strain on the Probation Service. "Thanks to the action of our hard working staff, immediate action has already been taken across the region to bolster safeguarding checks to protect the public."We are also boosting probation funding by 45%, investing up to £700m more by 2028, and we are planning to recruit another 1,300 probation officers by March next year. "This will ensure offenders receive robust supervision and improve the work officers to make our streets safer."
CBS News
30-07-2025
- CBS News
Fayette County woman ordered to pay more than $100,000 in restitution for Social Security fraud
A Fayette County woman was ordered to pay thousands of dollars in restitution after being sentenced for Social Security fraud. According to the Department of Justice, 68-year-old Teresa Sabolek will have to pay $116,758 and serve one year of probation after she was convicted of Social Security fraud and theft of government property. The court was presented with information that in May 2009, Sabolek applied for Social Security benefits but alleged that her husband did not live with her at her Belle Vernon property. Years later, Sabolek applied for spousal benefits on her husband's Social Security benefits. That's when a clerk pulled her husband's file and saw that his file contained a sworn statement from her husband declaring that he shared a home with his wife in Belle Vernon. An investigation from the Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General found that the husband's documents, including driver's license, mailing address, and registered vehicles, were all the same as Sabolek's, the home where she claimed she lived alone for more than 13 years. Agents visited the home in December 2024 and learned that the husband did live there, had a room, and paid the utility bills and mortgage. Sabolek's claim that she lived alone made her eligible for Social Security benefits, but had she indicated that her husband lived with her, she would not have been eligible for the benefits. In total, Sabolek received $116,758 in benefits between May 2009 and August 2022.
Otago Daily Times
21-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Man jailed for assault that permanently scarred victim's face
Kyle Thornicroft's lawyer asked the judge to look past his tattoos. PHOTO: SUPPLIED A heavily Nazi-tattooed Dunedin man who brandished a knife to commit a robbery left his victim permanently scarred, a court has heard. Kyle Justin Thornicroft, 28, appeared in the Dunedin District Court last week where he was jailed for two years and four months. Counsel Deborah Henderson urged Judge Emma Smith to ignore her client's tattoos — including multiple swastikas and a Nazi eagle logo on his forehead — and said he was "working towards becoming a productive member of society". The judge noted seven pages of criminal convictions featuring serious violence and property offences which had led to Thornicroft being locked up repeatedly. His most recent stint behind bars came for domestic violence, threats, a weapons charge and failure to attend court. Thornicroft's release conditions dictated he had to report to Probation to assist his rehabilitation and reintegration back into society. But Judge Smith said the man had been verbally abusive to his Probation officer and said he would rather go back to jail than maintain contact with them. On February 27 last year, Thornicroft sealed another trip to prison. The victim had come to a house to buy methamphetamine. Thornicroft, the court heard, had nothing to do with the drug deal, but formed the mistaken belief the man had supplied his sister with the class-A substance in exchange for sexual acts. "It remains somewhat unclear what happened next," the judge said. The defendant punched the victim in the face several times, one of the blows splitting the man's cheek and leaving him scarred. The wound was thought to have been caused by a ring Thornicroft was wearing. The man who had sold the victim the meth restrained him while the defendant — armed with a knife — rifled through his pockets, taking his drugs, cellphone, bank card, car keys and up to $50 cash. Thornicroft said he would return the keys and phone if the man did not go to police. The victim agreed but immediately reported the crime. In a statement, he told the court he believed Thornicroft was going to kill him. Crown prosecutor Richard Smith accepted the defendant's upbringing had significantly influenced his life's course. Both his parents were well known to police, the court heard. Judge Smith called Thornicroft's background "woeful" and said it had likely resulted in addiction issues he had consistently failed to shake. , Court reporter
Otago Daily Times
03-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Man who committed double shooting paroled
A Dunedin man who came inches from facing a murder charge following a drug-deal gone wrong has been released from prison. Kaleb Bell, 27, was originally charged with attempted murder following the double shooting in a central Dunedin street, but later pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He was jailed for two years three months when he appeared before the High Court at Dunedin in February last year, but was recently granted parole with eight months remaining on his sentence. In the coming weeks, Bell will be transported to Auckland to live with supporters, who were described by panel convener Judge Michael Crosbie as "a positive force in his life". The Otago Corrections Facility inmate had previously been on electronically monitored bail at the address without issue. "He complied with the house rules and did what he was told. There were no hiccups," Judge Crosbie said. On March 10, 2023, Bell arranged to buy cannabis from the victim, but the transaction was far from straightforward. When he arrived at the location, people in the victim's car pulled out a sawn-off shotgun. As they drove off, Bell was able to grab the firearm and gave chase in his mother's BMW. He caught up with the group at traffic lights in Thomas Burns St. Less than a metre from the victim, he aimed the shotgun and fired. Most of the pellets penetrated the door frame above the man's head, leaving a hole 7cm in circumference. One pellet hit the victim in the forehead, causing minor damage. "Had the shot been a few inches lower, the victim would have been shot directly in the head," court documents said. Bell travelled drove to the St Andrew St extension and performed a U-turn to face the victim's vehicle again as it negotiated the roundabout. The defendant rested the weapon on the BMW's window frame and fired again, shattering a window of the other vehicle. Bell told Probation the stand-over had cost him $20,000 and he had taken such drastic action to maintain his "street cred". "A theme of the offending appears to be a combination of drug use, addiction and youth," the Parole Board noted. Bell had completed a substance-abuse programme while locked up, as well as group counselling. Judge Crosbie said the restrictive conditions of parole combined with strong family support meant he could be safely released. "Mr Bell is under no illusions that he could be recalled for any breach and that such a recall would be instant," he said. Among his parole conditions were: ■To abide by a 9pm-5am curfew at an Auckland address. ■To submit to electronic monitoring. ■Not to use alcohol or illicit drugs. ■To attend any programmes as directed. ■Not to contact victims. ■To attend a monitoring hearing in November. ■To notify Probation of any changes in employment.
Otago Daily Times
16-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Gardener with mother issues sexted 88-year-old
A Dunedin gardener who sent raunchy messages to an octogenarian says he did it because she reminded him of his dead mother. Geoffrey Lyn Sinha, 50, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday for what Judge Michael Turner called "the most troubling case". "This man seems to want to sleep with a mother figure ... when you look at all the various comments he's made," the judge said. "I'm concerned about the risk this man poses to vulnerable members of the community." Sinha previously pleaded guilty to a charge of breaching the Harmful Digital Communications Act and was scheduled to apply for a discharge without conviction yesterday. Counsel Karlena Lawrence, however, indicated that would not be pursued. Judge Turner duly convicted Sinha of the charge but refused to sentence him because of a dearth of information. The court, he ruled, needed an "in-depth" psychological or psychiatric analysis of the defendant to determine how best to proceed. Sinha set up a gardening business in 2023 and began working for the 88-year-old victim the following year. At one point he sent her a photo of a woman dressed in "clothing associated with royalty" but later apologised and the victim shrugged it off. Later, however, his communications took on a lewd tone. "I want to lie with you," one of the tamer messages said. He also sent the victim a 39-second video of himself naked on his couch, performing an erotic act. The victim felt "disrespected, scared and completely shocked", according to court documents. While Sinha's crime was unusual, it was his variety of explanations that confounded the judge. Initially, he told police he simply misread the situation. "What situation was there to misread?" Judge Turner asked. The pair had previously exchanged pleasantries and shared a cup of tea but there had been nothing to hint at an intimate connection. Later, Sinha said the victim had a connection to his dead mother — who would have been the same age, and had worked in the same field — and "it all became distorted". His devotion to his mother Glennis was so strong that he had recently changed his name to "Glen", the court heard. When pressed by Probation to elaborate on his thinking, the defendant struggled to provide any clarity. "Your guess is as good as mine," he said. Sinha blamed his pursuit of the woman nearly 40 years his senior on his use of alcohol, medicinal cannabis and several months of watching pornography. He also cited recently turning 50 as well as his deteriorating relationship with his children as reasons behind his odd behaviour. In an affidavit before the court, Sinha said he had been sentenced to three years' hard labour (suspended) for drug importation in 2016 when he lived in Japan. He wrote that he had been to Europe to organise a conference when he stopped in Amsterdam on the way home, attempting to smuggle hashish into his adopted homeland. Sinha said he was having marital problems at the time. "His response to personal crises is to commit offences," Judge Turner said. "I think the court needs far more information about this man before anything can be done." Sinha was remanded on bail until sentencing in July. He continued to advertise his gardening services around Otago on social media as recently as March and told the Otago Daily Times yesterday's hearing was "a positive result". He hung up the phone when asked for further comment.
