Administrators' Perception of the Impact of Probation and Parole Employee Unionization

• NCJ Number: 77616
• Journal: Federal Probation Volume: 45 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1981) Pages: 26-30
• Author(s): C L Johnson; B D Smith
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 5 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Results are reported from a survey that determined the incidence of unionization in probation and parole agencies and the perception of administrators regarding the impact of unionization on program cost, quality, and administration.

Abstract

A survey of all State probation and parole agencies was conducted, and where such functions were locally administered the appropriate policy agency for probation and parole was contacted. All 60 agencies to which questionnaires were sent responded; 10 were to probation agencies, 11 parole, and 39 both probation and parole. A total of 19 (31.7 percent) were unionized, and of the 41 not unionized 10 were represented by employee organizations. Regarding the cost impact of unionization, 19 of the agencies indicated unionization would have no impact on cost; 31 indicated cost would increase by some percentage; and 10 did not reply to the question. A total of 26 felt that unionization would have no impact on quality of services, and 11 indicated it would have a positive impact; 17 believed unionization would have a negative impact on the quality of service, and 6 did not respond to the question. A total of 40 percent of the administrators indicated unionization would have no impact on program administration, while 48.3 percent believed it would increase the difficulty of administration; 5 percent anticipated that unionization would decrease the difficulty of administration. Cross-tabulations indicated that those agencies represented by employee organizations believe that cost would increase from unionization more often than did those agencies already unionized and those not unionized and with no employee organizations. One possible explanation for these results has to do with perception as opposed to knowledge. It may be that agencies with employee organizations anticipate unionization and thus expect the worst possible case with respect to cost. On the other hand, those agencies already unionized are aware of its consequences and indicate no impact on cost, and those agencies without unions or employee organizations have not yet considered the outcome. Overall, it appears that unionization among probation and parole officers is on the upward swing. Some of the likely effects on unionization are mentioned. Tabular data and footnotes are included.