Probation Journal is a peer reviewed publication. All papers submitted to Probation Journal are anonymised and then subjected to rigorous peer review by members of the editorial board and/or editorial advisory board and/or by appointed specialist assessors. The final decision to publish or reject is taken by the editor in the light of the recommendations received.
The Journal is published quarterly, in March, June, September and December, by SAGE Ltd. We welcome contributions on a wide range of subjects and particularly encourage contributions from practitioners, and those with substantial practice experience, which inform and illuminate the realities of work with offenders and promote good practice.
Submission of MSS:
Probation Journal has a fully web-based system for the submission and review of manuscripts. All submissions should be made online at the Probation Journal SATETRACK website http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/probation-journal
Note: Online submission and review of manuscripts is now mandatory for all types of papers.
New Submission
Submissions should be made by logging in and selecting the Author Center and the 'Click here to Submit a New Manuscript' option. Follow the instructions on each page, clicking the 'Next' button on each screen to save your work and advance to the next screen. If at any stage you have any questions or require the user guide, please use the 'Get Help Now' button at the top right of every screen. Further help is available through ScholarOne's® Manuscript CentralTM customer support at +1 434 817 2040 x 167.
To upload your files, click on the 'Browse' button and locate the file on your computer. Select the designation of each file (i.e. main document, submission form, figure) in the drop down next to the browse button. When you have selected all files you wish to upload, click the 'Upload Files' button
Review your submission (in both PDF and HTML formats) and then click the Submit button
You may suspend a submission at any point before clicking the Submit button and save it to submit later. After submission, you will receive a confirmation e-mail. You can also log back into your author centre at any time to check the status of your manuscript.
Please ensure that you submit editable/source files only (Microsoft Word or RTF) and that your document does not include page numbers; the Probation Journal SAGETRACK system will generate them for you, and then automatically convert your manuscript to PDF for peer review. Furthermore, it is imperative that authors remove from their submissions any information that will identify them or their affiliations to reviewers. All correspondence, including notification of the Editor's decision and requests for revisions, will be by email.
If you would like to discuss your paper prior to submission, or seek advice on the submission process please contact the Editor, Lol Burke, at the following email address: prbjournal@btinternet.com
Submitting a Revised Submission
Authors submitting revised manuscripts should follow the instructions above to submit through the SAGETRACK system. To create a revision, go to the 'Manuscripts with Decisions' option in your Author Dashboard and select 'create a revision in the 'Action' column. Authors of all revised submissions should, when prompted, provide information explaining the changes in your manuscript. As this will be provided to reviewers, it is important that authors do not identify themselves in these responses.
Promoting Anti-Discriminatory Practice: Probation Journal is committed to encouraging a diversity of perspectives, and welcomes submissions which genuinely attempt to enhance the reader's appreciation of difference and to promote anti-discriminatory values and practice. Authors should pay particular attention to avoiding discriminatory language and inferences.
Originality/Suitability: Submissions will be considered on the understanding that they are original papers that have not been published or accepted for publication elsewhere. This does not exclude submissions which have had prior limited or private circulation, for example in the writer's local area. However, your submission should be prepared specifically for publication in Probation Journal and not in the same form as a document written earlier for a different purpose or local audience. Please ensure that you take account of articles on similar themes which have been published previously in the Journal.
Multi-Authorship: One author should act as a link person. We will assume that the person submitting the paper has authority to act on behalf of other named authors.
Titles And Sub-Headings: The suggested title should appear on the first page of the manuscript. Sub-headings are encouraged to create a more readable, accessible and logically developed paper. Please use normal sentence case type.
Quotations: Quotations of about 20 words or more should be placed on a new line and indented. Place all quotations within single quotation marks. Only quotes within quotes should appear in double quotation marks.
Abbreviations: The names of organisations, etc. should be mentioned in full on the first occasion with the abbreviated version in brackets, and thereafter in the abbreviated version. For example, '...women remanded for pre-sentence reports (PSRs)...'. If, say, NAPO or NACRO are referred to, full stops (as in N.A.P.O.) are not necessary.
Capitals: 'Emphasis capitals' should be avoided. Do not capitalise 'police officer', 'probation service', criminal justice system, etc.
Diagrams And Tables: These should be used sparingly. Their location in the text should be indicated clearly in the typescript.
Deadline Dates: Submissions should normally be received by the 15th February/May/August/November.
References: References should be presented in the Harvard system, as below:
Books Smith, J.S. (1999) Probation. London: Routledge.
Chapters Smith, J.S. (1999) 'Preventing Reoffending', in D. Brown, Probation. London: Routledge.
Articles Smith, J.S. (1999) 'Protecting the Public', in Probation Journal 99 (3), pp.123-132.
Use footnotes sparingly. Material should normally appear in the text or as a reference.
· Selection And Publication
Letting You Know Our Decision: The editor or a member of the editorial board will be in touch with you within four-six weeks of the quarterly selection and planning meeting. The decision may be:
· To accept the submission as it stands or with editorial changes;
· To accept pending minor changes;
· To accept pending more substantial revisions;
· To suggest that you re-work and re-submit;
· To suggest that the submission could be used within another section of the Journal;
· To decline publication.
Submissions are accepted subject to space and final editorial decision when page proofs are prepared. All accepted submissions will be editorially reviewed and contributors must be prepared for material to be edited. The date of publication cannot be guaranteed.
Preliminary Consultation: If you are considering a possible submission or are considering basing an article on an existing report, dissertation, etc. please feel free to get in touch with the editor or any member of the editorial board. We will be pleased to read the original and give an opinion prior to the full assessment process.
· Submissions
Full Length Articles: Normally around 3,500-5,000 words though all contributions up to a maximum of 7,500 words including references will always be considered. Apart from full-length articles, shorter Comment articles and Practice Notes are very welcome.
Comment: The opportunity to write more informally and express opinions on any topic appropriate for Probation Journal. Ideally around 1,000-1,500 words including references, 2,500 words maximum.
Practice Notes: The opportunity to describe a recent piece of practice, practice-related issues or recent practice developments in brief. Ideally around 1,000-1,500 words including references, 2,500 words maximum.
Research/Reports: Accounts of recent empirical research, analysis, conference papers or working party reports, including, if possible, the availability and price of the full report or document (normally around 400-500 words, but up to 1,000 words is acceptable). Please contact the editor if you wish to submit a report.
· Other Features
Resources: Short accounts (50-100 words) of handbooks, videos, groupwork exercises, advice and information guides, etc. Please send a sample copy of the item if possible, as it may be possible to review it more fully.
Reviews: Though reviews are usually commissioned, we welcome unsolicited reviews of 300-600 words of recent relevant books, videos or films. If you feel that a book, etc. deserves review, please contact the book reviews editor (whose address is on the inside cover of the Journal) who will advise if one has already been requested or would otherwise be welcome. If a book review is accepted, please send a disk or email, including if possible a scan of the front cover. Failing this, a clear photocopy is acceptable.
In Court: If you feel that a decision or legal development in your local court would be worth national coverage, please send details to the editor.
Letters: Letters are very welcome, either in response to articles to extend debate, or as a convenient way of raising a new issue, in up to 500 words. See the latest issue for details of the deadline date.
· Submission Checklist
· Articles must be preceded by a 50-100 word abstract and 5-10 keywords;·
· Check references for accuracy and make sure they are in the Harvard style;
· Do not submit an article already published or accepted for publication elsewhere.
All submissions should be sent to: Lol Burke, Editor, Probation Journal, Mitre House, 223-237 Borough High Street, London SE1 1JD, UK. Email: prbjournal@btinternet.com
English Language Editing Services: Please click here for information on professional English language editing services recommended by SAGE.
