NCJ Number
49074
Journal
Juvenile Justice Volume: 26 Issue: 3 Dated: (AUGUST 1975) Pages: 20-23
Date Published
1975
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE NEED FOR CLEARLY DEFINED GOALS AND A PLAN FOR EACH PROBATIONER IS DISCUSSED. PROBATION OFFICERS MUST NOT FOCUS ALL THEIR ATTENTION ON 'SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT'; A CHANGE IN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IS THE PROPER GOAL.
Abstract
PROBATION OFFICERS TOO OFTEN VIEW THEIR FUNCTION AS COUNSELING, BUT PROBATION IS NOT A PROVIDER OF PSYCHOTHERAPY. INSTEAD, OFFICERS MUST REALIZE THAT A CRIMINAL ACT WAS COMMITTED AND TRY TO PREVENT THE RECURRENCE OF THIS BEHAVIOR. TO DO THIS THE DEPARTMENT MAY USE INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, GROUP COUNSELING, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, REMEDIAL EDUCATION, JOB PLACEMENT, MEDICAL CARE, OR VARIOUS TYPES OF RESIDENTIAL CARE. THE FIRST STEP SHOULD BE A CAREFUL CLASSIFICATION OF THE OFFENDER. THIS SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY A WELL-DEFINED PROBATION PLAN WHICH IS REVIEWED WITH THE PROBATIONER IN A PROCESS ANALOGOUS TO THAT FOLLOWED IN MANAGEMENT BY OBJECTIVES. THE DIFFERING NEEDS OF PROBATIONERS ALSO MEAN THAT DIFFERING CASELOADS MAY BE IN ORDER; THE WORKER WHO HANDLES TIME-CONSUMING PROBLEMS SHOULD HAVE A SMALLER CASELOAD THAN THE WORKER WITH ROUTINE CASES. RECIDIVISM IS CALLED THE ONLY TRUE MEASURE OF PROBATION EFFECTIVENESS. EVEN PAROLE REVOCATION IS NOT A RELIABLE MEASURE, SINCE SOME PROBATIONERS COMMIT FELONIES WITHOUT SUFFERING REVOCATION OF PAROLE. ADJUSTMENT CAN BE DETERMINED AND CAN BE A FACTOR IN A PROBATIONER'S SUCCESS OR FAILURE, BUT THE ONLY MEANINGFUL MEASURE IS A CESSATION OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. THE MANY NONPROBATION FACTORS AFFECTING RECIDIVISM ARE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING ATTITUDES OF POLICE AND JUDGES. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT PROBATION CAN WORK, BUT NOT FOR ALL PERSONS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (GLR)