Understanding the barriers that students in Further and Higher Education face when considering a career in the Probation Service

Despite the Probation Service having a fundamental role within the criminal justice system, staff recruitment and retention issues remain a continuing problem regarding Qualified Probation Officers. However, at present, the focus of research endeavours is placed upon those already in the service or leaving. Applying Bourdieu’s notion of a ‘ Theory of Practice’ , in which the idea of Habitus plays a crucial role, we highlight the barriers faced by Further and Higher Education students in recognising a career as a Probation Officer (PO) as an option. The findings from the two concurrent mixed-methods studies reveal that students’ familial structures and influences at the primary socialisation stage routinely steered their career decision-making despite recruitment initiatives. Likewise, at the secondary socialisation stage, the education system often perpetuates unhelpful stereotypes about who is best suited for this form of employment.