Oral Report Screening Tool

The Pilot has received feedback from Probation, HMCTS and some members of the Judiciary in relation to the delivery of short format written reports for three cohorts of service users. Feedback outlined that in some instances it is disproportionate to do a short format report for an individual in the cohort groups if they do not have any complex needs. A short-written format report, in many cases, will require an adjournment, and therefore where it would be disproportionate to do a short format report, seeking an adjournment could delay sentencing unnecessarily.

The PSR project team is therefore wanting to introduce a screening tool to allow probation to produce oral reports, rather than short format reports, for any individual in the three cohorts for whom they believe producing a short format report would be disproportionate. A recording framework will ensure this change will be scrutinised and reviewed to provide assurance that it is being implemented correctly.

Under this new arrangement the majority of cohort cases will not require the additional screening assessment introduced by the screening tool. It will only be used by probation where there is evidence suggesting a lack of complexity within a cohort case. Information about complex needs can be considered from a variety of sources including previous convictions, case records, CPS material and information from the defence solicitor. Additionally, following the screening process, a short-written report may be the outcome, rather than an oral report.

Under the Pilot probation still seek approval from the courts for any adjournment. This tool may only reduce the number of the requests, specific to the cohorts, to the Judiciary by ensuring any cases in which a short format report would be disproportionate would not be requested for an adjournment. This number is likely to be low.