Probation shakeup could reduce jail numbers

A SYSTEM aimed at assessing the threat of offenders could reduce the number sent to jail, the head of the Probation and Welfare Service (PWS) said yesterday.

From next month the PWS will introduce a systematic risk assessment of all offenders as part of its service to the courts.

This is the first time such a tool - not unlike a psychometric test - will be used to categorise offenders in this jurisdiction.