HM Inspectorate of Probation promote excellence in probation and youth justice services across England and Wales.
Our statement of purpose is to report on the effectiveness of work with adults and children and young people who have offended. Our Chief Inspector, Martin Jones, is appointed by the Crown to do this. We are funded by the Ministry of Justice but we are independent and report directly to the Secretary of State for Justice.
We deliver our work through independent inspections, recommendations, research and effective practice guidance.
As well as inspections of individual/regional services, we publish regular thematic reports on key issues in the criminal justice system, conduct Serious Further Offence (SFO) reviews and produce annual reports each year. Find out more about our work here.
Our independent research contributes greatly to our work and provides evidence on which we base our standards for inspections. We also commission leading academics to provide their views on a range of related topics. See Our Research.
The Chief Inspector of Probation is Martin Jones and he produces a blog.
We publish all of our reports – see Our Reports – and announce upcoming inspections and the publication of reports via Twitter.
Our vision, purpose, and values
Our vision
High-quality probation and youth justice services that change people’s lives for the better.
Our purpose
HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of probation and youth justice services in England and Wales. We set the standards that shine a light on the quality and impact of these services. Our inspections, reviews, research and effective practice products provide authoritative and evidence-based judgements and guidance. We use our voice to drive system change, with a focus on inclusion and diversity. Our scrutiny leads to improved outcomes for individuals and communities.
Our values
Influential: We care about making a positive impact on the organisations we inspect and the individuals they work with.
Independent: We ensure that the judgements we make are supported by evidence, are fair and impartial.
Professional: We work in a respectful, transparent, professional way, listening to and sharing learning internally and externally.
Inclusive: We work as ‘One HM Inspectorate of Probation’, valuing and respecting each other’s viewpoints and skills, so that everyone feels a part of what we do.
Diverse: We are passionate about diversity and the value that comes through giving everyone a voice in our inspections and the chance to succeed in our organisation.
Our mandate
HM Chief Inspector of Probation’s responsibilities are set out in Section 7 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act (2000), as amended by the Offender Management Act (2007), section 12(3)(a). This requires the Chief Inspector to inspect (section 1) and report to the Secretary of State (section 3) on the arrangements for the provision of probation services.
Under Section 7(6) of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act (2000), HM Chief Inspector of Probation is also conferred to inspect and report on Youth Justice Teams, established under section 39 of the Crime and Disorder Act (1998), and bodies acting on their behalf.
The History of HM Inspectorate of Probation
The history indicates the way that HM Inspectorate of Probation has evolved and adapted to changing times and demands since its foundation in 1936.