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<p>The Probation Service is responsible for producing Pre-Sentence Reports (PSRs)
when they are requested by the Court. A PSR includes a sentencing recommendation based
on an offender's individual circumstances and consideration of public protection concerns,
alongside suitable rehabilitative and punitive requirements.</p><p>A PSR can be delivered
to Courts in a range of formats including the longer written Standard Delivery Report
(SDR), and the Short Format Report (SFR) which can be delivered in written or oral
format.</p><p>The key principles for decisions on the format of report delivery to
Court are:</p><ol><li>What information is available to the PSR author and the Court
on the day of sentence. Access to information regarding risk from other agencies does
inform the risk assessment and so can affect proposals to the court. Where this information
is not available on the day, the impact of this needs to be assessed to determine
whether a longer adjournment is needed.</li><li>Complexity of the risk assessment.
The presence of factors that require additional assessment, professional discussion,
and / or multiple enquiries to aid risk assessment has an important bearing on whether
reports should be delivered on the day of request or adjourned for further assessment.</li></ol><p>As
a general rule all report types are suitable for use across the sentencing thresholds.
Guidance is available for probation staff to assist them in determining when to request
for a longer adjournment to facilitate an SDR report.</p><p>The Probation Service
is working on a range of initiatives to increase the number of cases in which the
Courts receive written reports. These are:</p><ul><li>A pilot scheme across fifteen
courts, aimed at targeting written reports at specific cohorts where a more detailed
exploration of complex issues relating to trauma, maturity and the loss of liberty
may be needed.</li><li>Rolling out across England and Wales a scheme to provide PSRs
on committal from magistrates’ courts to the Crown Court, following a successful pilot
in Bristol. The Probation Service continues to utilise a PSR before plea process,
which enables PSRs to be prepared on cases ahead of the first hearing if an indication
of an intended guilty plea is given.</li><li>Supporting case progression in appropriate
cases with PSRs prepared in advance of first hearing at both Crown and Magistrates’
Courts.</li></ul>
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