Pitfalls and Prospects in Partnership Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Pitfalls and Prospects in Partnership - Article Example This essay will explain and analyze the pitfalls and prospects in Partnership in Probation Programmes for substance misusing offenders. Based on researches crimes are usually committed by those who are under the influence of drugs. The article of Judith Rumgay and Sharon Cowan has presented the effectivity of partnership in the probation programmes. If the probation service is to play significant roles in working with problem drug users, this will inevitably involve more partnership work with drug services. The aim of the article is to present the Pitfalls and prospects in partnership in probation programme for substance misusing offenders. Impact on inter-agency relationships is beginning. Home office directions to probation services are forging financial partnerships with voluntary sector organisations. For the past ten years the probation services has been increasingly working in conjunction with other agencies. The probation services are being pressured to work with criminally involved problem drug users. The Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD, 1991) made specific recommendations about probation service delivery. In addition, the 1991 Criminal Justice Act revised the statutory provision for the treatment of drug- (and alcohol-) misusing offenders within a probation order. The authors report on an ongoing study of partnerships between probation services and substance misuse agencies in England and Wales. Rumgay and Cowan compare the expectations of partnership as revealed in policy and management perspectives with the experience of probation officers and drug/alcohol workers involved in projects at pract ice level. The authors compare the expectations of partnership as revealed in policy and management perspective with the experience of probation officers and drug/alcohol workers involved in projects at practice level. The following differences between successful and problematic partnerships are explored and the question is asked as to how far inter-agency relationships are influenced by the additional factor of financial contracts for the services of voluntary agencies. Statutory and Voluntary agency partnerships in community supervision of offenders are considered with particular reference to issues in compulsion and enforcement. Discussion The involvement of private and public sector in the development of a new probation services is important. The probation service supports and monitors offenders in the community, oversees the implementation of Community Sentences, administers a range of Offender Behaviour Programmes and provides a service to the courts where pre sentence reports are required. It works in partnership with Prison Service, the Police, the Drugs Intervention Programme and the Youth Offending Team and at a strategic level with the local authority and other NGO's. The article provides information on how the service is being rendered to the offender. NGO group such as the staff of voluntary sector housing providers and employment and training agencies are embedded at a local level and there are established links with services specialising in mental health and alcohol. The aim to reduce

Feliz Navidad Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Feliz Navidad - Essay Example The performance consists of simple singing or chanting of religious songs and all the homes are set up as a "Nativity scene" where the home owners pose as inn keepers. The interesting part is that the procession carries candles and statues of Jesus and Mary as the re-enactors ask for lodging at three houses and only the third house lets them inside in accordance with the Christmas story. The guests then enter the chosen house and sing traditional Christmas and religious songs for the Virgin Mary which concludes into a famous piata party for the children. Of course the ever famous Piata (which originates from Italian tradition) is the main object of interest for the children at these parties .This is a clay pot decorated with paper, and is filled with hard candy, peanuts sugar cane and fruit. The children are blindfolded and take turns at hitting it with a stick until it breaks so they can all have the sweet treats inside. The traditional Christmas piata is shaped like a star and has seven peaks, which symbolizes the seven deadly sins. The stick with which it is broken is a symbol of faith and therefore the destruction of the Piata is a symbol of the destruction of these deadly sins with faith. The Mexicans also have a very unique tradition of exchanging presents at New Years Eve rather than on Christmas .This gift exchanging is known as Misa de Gallo (Rooster's Mass). Some families might even wait as late as the Wise Mens Day which is on January the 6th to exchange gifts because on this day the Magi brought gifts to the baby Jesus. Instead of stockings (like in the American culture) the children traditionally place their shoes near the window so the Magi can fill the shoes with gifts .The children also look forward to the Merienda, ( a tea time with hot chocolate) and La Meridenda, (an festive dinner) in celebration of this day. This is a two week national holiday for the Mexicans .The US influence is ever present as in the recent decades there has been an adaptation of Santa Claus and many other American traditions. However the strong and unique Mexican culture continues to dominate these very family oriented traditions. The Holiday festivities end on the Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) with the celebration of a late-night Misa de Gallo (Rooster's Mass).This is followed by a festive dinner of traditional cuisines and sweet meats. The Christmas celebration hardly ends there as on December 28, Day of the Holy Innocents there is a commemoration of King Herod's attempt to slaughter all the new born male infants including baby Jesus. The Mexicans add a comic twist to the day as they play pranks on each other just like the April fool's day. The Christmas season continues merrily into the Three Kings Day which symbolises the arrival in Bethlehem of The Wise Men bringing gifts for baby Jesus. Reyes Magos is the Mexican version of the Santa Claus and on every January the 6th the native Mexican children hope to receive toys and gifts from this mythical figure. The Mexicans with their merry culture and strong family ties make the Christmas festivities a treat for the eyes and the soul. The final Candlemas is on February the 2nd officially marking the end of