| Abstract: | This article presents data from a study which has provided evidence of probation officers’ close involvement with some of the most hard to help psychiatric patients and of the nature of their working relations with psychiatrists. Given the burden of responsibility they carry, and the training deficiencies they report, it is clear that probation officers could work more confidently and effectively in this field if there were more opportunities for consultation and shared working with the psychiatric services. We conclude with some suggestions for improving collaboration between psychiatrists and probation officers. |
