ALLOCATION OF TIME IN THE PROBATION AND AFTER-CARE SERVICE IN THE NETHERLANDS - A STUDY

• NCJ Number: 68295
• Author(s): M J M BRAND-KOOLEN; J L P SPICKENHEUER; L C M TIGGES
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 25 pages
• Corporate Author: Netherlands Ministry of Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: Netherlands

Annotation

THE NETHERLANDS' ASSOCIATION OF PROBATION AND AFTER-CARE ORGANIZATIONS WAS SURVEYED TO DISCOVER HOW THE PROBATION OFFICERS DIVIDE THEIR TIME, THE ATTITUDES AND OPINIONS OF THE OFFICERS, AND CASELOAD DETERMINATION.

Abstract

THE PROBATION AND AFTER-CARE SERVICE WAS INTENDED TO RENDER ASSISTANCE TO CLIENTS AND SERVICES TO JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES. THE SURVEY COVERED TIME SPENT BY ALL OFFICERS PER ACTIVITY, THE TIME SPENT BY THE FULL-TIME PROBATION AND AFTER-CARE OFFICERS (SOCIAL WORKERS), AND THE LENGTH AND FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS WITH CLIENTS. PROBATION OFFICERS WERE ALSO ASKED TO INDICATE THE RELEVANCY AND SATISFACTION OF SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO MENTAL FATIGUE. THE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED AMONG A QUARTER OF THE WORKERS OF THE ORGANIZATION (N=275), WITH WORKERS MAKING A DAILY RECORD OF TIME SPENT ON EACH ACTIVITY. DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO CLIENTS (MOSTLY IN OFFICE INTERVIEWS) AND ACTIVITIES CONNECTED WITH SERVICES TO THE LEGAL AUTHORITIES (WRITING OF PRESENTENCE REPORTS AND CONDUCTING NECESSARY INQUIRIES) WERE FOUND TOGETHER TO TAKE UP AROUND 60 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL TIME AVAILABLE (INCLUDING INTERNAL REPORTS AND TRAVELING TIME). THE REMAINING TIME DID NOT DIRECTLY BENEFIT THE CLIENT, BUT WAS ALLOCATED TO MEETINGS, WORK SUPERVISION, AND MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES. SOCIAL WORKERS EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH THEIR CLIENTS; THUS, THE FIFTH OF TOTAL TIME SPENT ON SUPPORT-ACTIVITIES (SUPERVISION, TEAM DISCUSSION) IS QUESTIONABLE. FUTHER, THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO CONTACT WITH JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES, IN THE PRESENCE OF THE CLIENT OR OTHERWISE, REFLECTING A CERTAIN RETICENCE ON THE PART OF THE PROBATION OFFICERS WHO FIND SUCH CONTACTS MENTALLY FATIGUING. PROBATION OFFICERS HELD THAT DEVOTING LESS TIME TO MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES MIGHT HELP TO INCREASE TIME WITH CLIENTS IN INTERVIEWS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. TWO FURTHER SURVEYS ARE PLANNED TO MORE FULLY EXAMINE THE VIEWS OF THE PROBATION OFFICERS AND CLIENTS ON THE WORK ITSELF. THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT IS APPENDED.