Exploring the relationship between emotions and probation practice

The aim of the collected published work is to explore emotions and their relationship with probation work. I present my research against a backdrop of combined disciplinary concepts including emotional labour, effective practice and burnout to answer three research questions:1) How does the context of policy and probation culture shape emotional displays in probation work? 2) What does the use of emotion look like in probation work? 3) What are the consequences of the use of emotion in probation work? Using pragmatist philosophy, I implemented a qualitative approach to research mainly through semi-structured interviews with probation workers to generate several sets of findings. This body of work expands on a growing literature that reframes the use of emotions in probation work as an essential feature of effective probation practice. I examined the gaps in literature when considering emotion in probation practice, how this body of work contributes to filling those gaps and future considerations for emotions in probation practice. The collection of 8 publications shows that emotional labour is inherent to probation work. My research makes a three-fold contribution to the field:

• It highlights the marginalisation of emotion in probation policy and the enduring significance of using emotions to practice probation.

• It provides a better understanding of how policy, organisational aims, societal and professional expectations shape emotional displays in probation practice.

• It demonstrates the consequences of complex emotional work in probation for practitioners and managers through the lens of emotional labour.