Probation, ‘Borderline’ Offenders and the need for Boundaries

BY SUE WHEATCROFT

The lack of mental health training for probation staff can have dire consequences for people being managed on license in the community. Sue Wheatcroft tells The View about her experience in an article written for The Probation Journal, which was later censored and removed. How are organisations meant to learn when they thrive off a culture of denial and abuse?

The first meeting with my Probation Officer (PO) started off badly. She had read my case notes, which said I was ‘high risk’, and made it clear she had reservations about supervising me. I had Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and was known to struggle to manage my emotions. The Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) had refused to help me, saying first that there is no treatment for BPD, and then after my arrest, that I was obviously in crisis and so unable to engage, so I was used to knock backs. Nevertheless, I was a little disappointed with her attitude and the fact that she had pre-judged me. I had never had a PO before and didn’t know what to expect. I was 55 years old and this was my first time in prison. I was looking forward to going home to my partner and was sure that I would not be returning to prison.

After my release, I saw the PO twice a week. I attended all my appointments and did not offend further, so after a couple of months they were cut down to once a week. I frequently asked if, and when, I would receive input from the CMHS. I received two stock answers. It was either ‘you can obviously manage your emotions, so you don’t need any help’, or ‘you cannot manage your emotions and so will not be able to engage’. I never did get any help, but it didn’t seem to matter because I could talk to my PO. She had softened towards me since our initial meeting and I looked forward to seeing her each week.

We spoke about any issues I was having but equally, we discussed her and her personal life. “Enough about you, did I tell you about what I did last weekend?”, she would say.

I liked talking to her. She was funny, intelligent and interesting. She also seemed to care about me. We discussed my issues with attachment, a common symptom of BPD, and she seemed to understand what a serious problem it was for me. The feelings can become so intense that some people become obsessed and even resort to stalking. I hadn’t, but I understood how easy it could be to reach that stage.

We talked about anything and everything, and we laughed, a lot. I was becoming attached to her, and she knew it. She asked if I wanted a different PO; I declined. The best way of curtailing this type of attachment is to have no contact with the subject. However, the one with the attachment will not break the contact because they yearn for that person’s attention. The following comments are a good example of the feelings some people, including myself, frequently experience. It may sound extreme, but unfortunately, for many it is reality…

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