ALAMEDA COUNTY (CA) - EVALUATION OF PROBATION SERVICES FINAL REPORT, JUNE, 1977

• NCJ Number: 42067
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 185 pages
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS EVALUATION OF ALAMEDA COUNTY PROBATION COVERS THREE MAJOR AREAS: THE OVERALL MANAGEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT, THE ADULT INVESTIGATION PROCESS, AND THE PROCESS AND OUTCOMES OF ADULT SUPERVISION.

Abstract

THE EVALUATION OF THE PROBATION MANAGEMENT CONCENTRATES ON THREE LEVELS. THE FIRST LEVEL IS THE POLITICAL, LEGAL, AND ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT IN WHICH PROBATION OPERATES; THE SECOND LEVEL FOCUSES ON THE WAYS IN WHICH MANAGEMENT RELATES TO OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN ALAMEDA COUNTY; AND THE LAST IS DEVOTED TO AN ANALYSIS OF HOW WELL PROBATION MANAGES ITS INTERNAL OPERATIONS. SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS WERE ENCOUNTERED IN MANAGEMENT OF THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. IN PARTICULAR, THERE WAS A CRITICAL DEGREE OF STAFF FRUSTRATION AND ALIENATION. KEY FACTORS LEADING TO THIS WERE THOUGHT TO BE CONFUSION OVER THE DIRECTION AND PURPOSE OF PROBATION, INADEQUACY OF STAFF SUPERVISION, CHANGING PROCEDURES, AND CONFLICTING EMPHASES OF PROBATION OPERATIONS AND PROBATION TRAINING. THE EVALUATION OF THE ADULT INVESTIGATION ACTIVITIES EXAMINED BOTH THE PROCESS USED TO INVESTIGATE ADULT DEFENDANTS AND THE PRODUCTS PROVIDED TO THE COURTS, ATTORNEYS, AND SUPERVISION DEPUTY PROBATION OFFICERS. RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE PRESENT PROCESS PRODUCES REPORTS TO THE COURTS THAT ARE OF UNDISTINGUISHED QUALITY AND OF LIMITED UTILTIY. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT MANY OF THE CONCERNS RAISED IN THIS AREA CAN BE ELIMINATED THROUGH VERIFYING INFORMATION IN THE REPORTS, PROVIDING MORE 'QUALITY CONTROL', AND INCREASING THE DEGREE OF ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION. FINALLY, THE EVALUATION ON THE ADULT SUPERVISION PROCESS SHOWED THAT OFFENDERS PROBABLY SUCCEED OR FAIL MORE ON THE BASIS OF THEIR PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS THAN ON THE BASIS OF ANY SERVICES THEY RECEIVED THROUGH PROBATION. OVERALL, THE EVALUATION RECOMMENDS THAT THE GOALS OF PROBATION BE CLARIFIED, AND PROPOSES THAT THIS GOAL BE THE PROTECTION OF THE COMMUNITY. SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF MANAGEMENT, INVESTIGATION, AND SUPERVISION ARE INCLUDED....DMC