Abstract:This article examines the opportunities and obstacles facing the possible extension of legal and social rights for users of probation services. It is argued that the notion of users' rights in the community punishment context promotes a view of users as citizens with responsibilities rather than feckless offenders. It is further argued that extended user rights should act as a check against forms of new managerialism which now permeate the probation service, providing a means whereby users of the probation service could be treated more openly and equitably. The article concludes with some preliminary proposals for a service users' charter, making reference to the victims' and prisoners' rights movement.