Cultural dissonance

[mandragora]

Just found out from the little_details community that in the US probation officers are armed. Wow. Just, wow.

See, I know lots of probation officers in Britain. They are all social workers, are unaffiliated with the police, and absolutely none of them carry a gun. Ever. I admire probation, who do a difficult job (mostly) pretty well and they're usually nice, caring people who genuinely care about the convicted criminals who are their clients. The idea that they'd need to be armed, given that they're there to help, is just... mind-boggling.

I know the US is a completely different culture (actually, several different cultures, I think, given the vast differences in outlook across the various States) from the UK but I've spent quite a bit of time there (and love parts of the US with a passion) and then I learn something like this and it smacks me in the face with its strangeness.

I wonder if probation is armed in other countries where the police are also routinely armed. Anyone know?

Comments

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

ROFL literally. If only -- it'd really enliven the sentencing hearings.