The National Probation Service for England and Wales:

	Provides reports on people charged with an offence - this helps Magistrates and Judges decide on the sentence they pass in court.
	Enforces community sentences by ensuring offenders: Carry out unpaid work that benefits the community and/or attend supervision with a probation officer and Attend an offending behaviour programme and/or attend drug misuse treatment & testing.
	Returns offenders to court for further punishment if they don't co-operate with probation staff. This may lead to an additional community sentence, a fine or imprisonment.
	Delivers specialist programmes for offenders, which are proven to reduce further offending.
	Provides Prison Governors with specialist reports about prisoners' suitability for release into the community. Probation staff will recommend what conditions e.g. curfew/tagging order or probation supervision should be imposed.
	Works with prisoners before and after their release from prison. Probation staff tackle the causes of offending and help offenders re-integrate into the community on their release.
	Liaises with victims of serious crime. Keeps them informed about a prisoner's progress in prison. Obtains feedback about any concerns they have about proposed release and liases about restriction zones which may be imposed.
	Offers employment, education and accommodation services to help offenders live crime-free lives. Support in these areas has been shown to reduce the chances of people offending again
	Works with other agencies and organisations for local crime reduction and community safety e.g. police, courts, local authorities, health services, substance misuse/drug services, voluntary agencies, Youth Offending Teams.