Care and control is at the heart of the probation service, a retiring Dunedin probation officer says.
Nick Milton (69), who retired on Friday after 45 years in the service, explained how the role combined both of those elements.
The care was in trying to find ways of helping the offender reintegrate into the community, such as work opportunities and giving them help to overcome issues such as alcohol abuse.
The control was in ensuring the offender completed their sentence.
Mr Milton's work with a client began after they were released from prison or had been referred to him by a judge.
He would first conduct a structured interview with a client to better understand their personal circumstances and what may prevent them from successfully reintegrating into the community after serving their sentence.
After monitoring the client's reintegration into the community, Mr Milton would write a report to a judge giving his assessment of the client's likelihood of reoffending.
Certain cases were emotionally affecting, Mr Milton said.
"I can think of some that involved a death and so you ponder that sort of thing for a long time.''
Conversely parts of the job could be very rewarding.
"You still in an interview can witness or encourage or actually experience a person making positive attitude changes.
"If you think, rightly or wrongly, that you were part of that process it can be quite rewarding.''
Most clients Mr Milton had dealt with did not like being in trouble so conversations could be quite pleasant and centred around how to put things right and move on, he said.
But there had been some frightening incidents during his career.
Like the time someone entered the probationary office with a crossbow.
"He wasn't all there. It was scary,'' Mr Milton recalled.
The armed offenders squad was called and the matter was resolved.
Mr Milton was looking forward to spending more time with family in his retirement.
JOSHUA.RIDDIFORD @thestar.co.nz
