Abstract

Criminal justice inspectorates and inspection processes have rarely been examined in criminology and criminal justice. This is in spite of the key role inspectorates play in terms of governance and accountability, driving quality, assessing value for money and policy change. In this paper I will present findings from the first piece of research to be conducted in relation to inspection in probation. The main aims of the study were to uncover the main ‘impacts’ of inspection on probation policy and practice. However, in this paper I will explore the reasons behind why there is widespread buy-in to the inspection regime in probation. Through the lens of Bourdieu’s capital, I will argue that people comply with the regime – even when they do not always agree with it – because it benefits them in different ways which are, in turn, tied to the logic of the field of community sanctions. Ultimately, the argument raises questions for the Inspectorate in terms of how it goes about garnering legitimacy from the people it inspects.