The Missing Story: The Battle for Probation’s Public Image with Stephen Pitts & Imants Mozers — Part One

May 25, 2026

🎙️ Episode Show Notes — Part One

The Missing Story of Probation with Stephen Pitts & Imants Mozers

What is the story probation tells about itself?

And perhaps just as importantly…

What happens when probation does not tell that story clearly?

In this episode of The Criminologist Podcast, we begin a powerful two-part conversation with Stephen Pitts and Imants Mozers, co-authors of the new book:

📘 The Missing Story: Probation, Legitimacy and the Battle for Public Understanding

This conversation was so rich, timely, and engaging that we decided to release it as a two-part series.

In Part One, Steve and Imants help us explore why probation remains one of the most important — yet often misunderstood — parts of the justice system.

Too often, the public hears about probation only when something goes wrong.

But what is missing from that narrative?

The daily work of supporting change.
The quiet building of accountability.
The role probation plays in desistance.
The contribution probation makes to safer communities.
And the professional identity of the people doing this work every day.

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🔍 In This Episode, We Discuss:

✅ Why probation has a “missing story”
✅ How public understanding shapes legitimacy
✅ Why probation is often defined by failure rather than impact
✅ The importance of narrative in justice reform
✅ How probation professionals can better communicate their value
✅ The connection between legitimacy, trust, and effective practice
✅ Why probation’s identity matters — both internally and externally
✅ The role of leadership in shaping public understanding

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🌍 Why This Conversation Matters

Probation is not simply about monitoring people.

It is about supporting rehabilitation, reducing reoffending, building social reintegration, and helping create safer futures.

Yet too often, probation is undervalued because its most meaningful work happens quietly — in conversations, relationships, case plans, community partnerships, and moments of human change that rarely make headlines.

Steve and Imants challenge us to think differently.

They invite us to ask:

👉 Who tells the story of probation?
👉 What story does the public actually hear?
👉 What happens when probation is misunderstood?
👉 And how can the field become more intentional in communicating its purpose, value, and impact?

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📘 About the Book

The Missing Story: Probation, Legitimacy and the Battle for Public Understanding explores the urgent need for probation to better explain itself — not as a soft option, not as an invisible arm of the justice system, but as a vital public service rooted in accountability, rehabilitation, and community safety.

Learn more about the Probation Futures project here:

🌐 www.probationfutures.com

There, you can sign up for updates and learn more about the digital book release and related probation-focused conversations from around the world.

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🎧 Stay Tuned for Part Two

In Part Two of this conversation, we continue the discussion by exploring:

🔹 The importance of including perspectives of people with lived experience
🔹 How probation can become more transparent and credible
🔹 The future of international probation collaboration
🔹 And the next World Congress on Probation and Parole, which will be held in Riga, Latvia

🎙️ Final Thought

Probation’s missing story is not simply about what probation does.

It is about what probation means.

And if probation does not tell that story clearly, someone else will tell it for us.

🔗 Connect & Learn More

📘 Probation Futures: www.probationfutures.com
🎙️ The Criminologist Podcast: [e-mail]
🌊 Learn more about the TIDES Supervision Model: TheTIDESLLC.com

And as always…

There’s no them. There’s only us.