A review into chronic understaffing of probation officers is expected to recommend solutions early next month.

The staff shortage, which has caused delayed sentencings in past months as overburdened officers struggled to complete court-ordered social inquiry reports, could be resolved with the release of the review in two weeks time.

Director of Child and Family Services, Miss Luelle Todd, yesterday said the staff situation was being monitored by the Management Services Department and that action would be taken on its findings.

Meanwhile, an extra officer has been hired on a temporary basis.

"We need to find out what kind of additional support is required and what their needs are,'' she said.

"We are putting 100 percent effort into it. Our decisions will then depend on the review.'' In August, probation officers informed magistrates that they would take on fewer new cases because of staff shortages. They said officers were faced with more than twice the recommended number of cases and were unable to follow them up thoroughly.

Their workload was increased by court decisions to reduce prison sentences and hand down more probation and community service orders. For probation officers, the new slant on leniency and rehabilitation meant the need for more social inquiry reports on offenders.

Mr. Eugene Blakeney, Bermuda Public Services Association general secretary, said probation officers needed an additional six staff to meet the demands.

Since August, social inquiry reports have taken a minimum of four weeks to complete instead of the usual three.