Man in handcuffs, archive photo (Photo: ShutterStock)
The probation service of the Ministry of Social Affairs is facing a severe manpower shortage, which leads to a delay in receiving a report from the probation officer for detainees, and to their prolonged detention. The submission of an arrest report should take no more than two weeks, but it is usually submitted after two months on average.
Writing a detainee report for punishment takes about two months, with a desired submission time of one month, as does a house arrest report. A penalty report should be received within two months, but in practice the average filing time is nine months. This is according to the report of the ministry's staff on shortening the time for submitting probation service reports obtained by Walla!
The report also shows that over the past two years, and in response to delays in filing times, courts in all instances have in many cases made decisions regarding the release of defendants in remand proceedings, without relying on detention reports. The Probation Service reports that during 2021 there were around 22,000 referrals to the Probation Service – 48% sentencing reports and 35% arrest reports. There are only 575 standards for probation service, with only 75% of the devices staffed.
The court was forced to forgo briefings due to the need to make a decision on the question of detention within a reasonable time (Photo: official website, Yossi Zamir, Flash 90)
The report came after in December 2020, the then national public defender wrote to Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit and the Director General of the Ministry of Social Affairs, warning again of a serious constitutional violation of defendants' rights, and mentioned several rulings according to which the court was forced to waive briefings, despite the important insights inherent in it, due to the need to make a decision on the question of detention in a reasonable time.
In May 2021, the Director of the Adult Probation Service contacted my daughter's director, the attorney general, and the head of the public defender's office, warning them of significant delays in filing reviews and execution orders. This appeal clarified, among other things, the reasons for the delays and waits, as well as the issue of manpower shortages.
In addition, the team's report refers to several recommendations in order to alleviate the manpower shortage, among which they sought to examine the option of privatizing the probation service and outsourcing, even though it is a man-imposed service. In addition, a track was recommended for the absorption of third-year students at a fixed standard in the probation service, the recruitment of retirees who worked in the probation service, and the recruitment of assistant probation officers to help write the reports.
More in Walla!
Strategic location, spectacular views and luxurious apartments: the intriguing neighborhood being built in the center
In association with Aura Real Estate
More in Walla!
- Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar visits Washington for talks on the Palestinian issue
- Palestinian toddler critically wounded by gunfire in Binyamin - apparently aimed at an IDF post
- The secret to prolonging the sexual act and improving pleasure - with a special offer
Ministry of Social Affairs, Jerusalem (Photo: official website, none)
Most members of the panel agreed that it could be assumed, with the necessary caution, that the easier the transfer, the more appropriate a decision regarding the defendant's release could be made without relying on the probation service's report. On the other hand, even if the offense is serious (serious euthanasia and sexual offenses), the use of probation service reports may be reduced in cases where there is no real doubt that the danger of the accused is extremely high and he cannot be released for an alternative to detention.
The defense emphasized that in her opinion, the severity of the offense is not the optimal test. There is also a real concern that the term "minor offense" will be interpreted narrowly, and will not lead to a reduction in the number of referrals to reviews.
Probation Service reports are a significant aid in the criminal process. These briefs provide the court with a comprehensive picture of the defendant, and consist of three main parts, which include factual data about the offender's past, family, environment, mental, physical and functional state; about the circumstances that led him to commit the offense; Assessing the risk of recurrence of the offense or behavior and the recommendation of the probation officer against the background of the possibility of alleviating the danger of the defendant during the detention stage, and the possibility of integrating him into a rehabilitation process, the chances of rehabilitation at the sentencing stage, and the formulation and execution of rehabilitation plans for the appropriate defendants.
- news
- News in Israel
- Society and Welfare
Tags
- Ministry of Social Affairs
- Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare
- Arrest
- Detainees
