Local probation officer sees justice the American way

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Probation officer Mags Copitch, who is based at HMP Buckley Hall, was guest of honour at one of California’s appeal courts during a trip to the United States.

Dennis Perluss is the presiding justice of the state’s Second District Court of Appeal, division seven – a grand title for a friend of the family.

Mags visited North America with her husband during the summer and stayed with Dennis and his wife, Rabbi, Emily Feigenson for four days.

She met with probation staff, saw a jury being sworn in and watched the summing up of a murder trial.

Mags said: “It was an amazing experience, I spent the morning in a felony court and met Judge Ferra and sat in chambers with her discussing the criminal justice systems of the US and England and the differences between them.

“What stood out for me was that the roles parole officers and probation officers are two entirely separate things in America.

"Parole only deal with custody, and probation only community. The people I spoke to were astounded that we do both jobs and they were very impressed by the idea of having Offender Management (OMU) Model and having OMUs inside prisons.”

Mags then met deputy probation officer Sharon Hawkins, who works for the Community of LA Central Adult Investigations Department.

She said: "One of major differences that stood out was that pre-sentence report is carried out before the defendant pleads – it’s an investigation that informs the court.

“And they don’t mince words. Their equivalent of the Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme is called The Wife Beaters Course.

“I then sat in on the summing up at the end of a murder trial that involved a gang member from the Cripps.

“It was a fascinating experience!”