NCJ Number
57667
Date Published
1979
Length
502 pages
Annotation
THIS LITERATURE REVIEW EXAMINES ISSUES IN PROBATION MANAGEMENT INCLUDING TECHNIQUES IN PROBATION AND ADMINISTRATION, APPROACHES AND EMPHASES, AND THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS TECHNIQUES.
Abstract
SEVERAL MAJOR ISSUES IN PROBATION WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE REVIEW. SOME MAIN CONCERNS IN MANAGEMENT ARE THE ISSUES OF CENTRALIZATION OR DECENTRALIZATION OF ADMINISTRATION (CENTRALIZED, STATE-ADMINISTERED AGENCIES ARE FREE OF LOCAL POLITICS AND CAN DELIVER MORE UNIFORM AND EVENLY DIVIDED SERVICES AND RESOURCES, BUT DECENTRALIZED AGENCIES CAN SOLICIT MORE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION); THE PROPER ROLE OF PROBATION OFFICERS (PUNITIVE OR PASSIVE); AND THE PROVISION OF PROBATION SERVICES, PARTICULARLY CASEWORK, WHICH FOCUSES ON SERVICE PROVISION, AND BROKERAGE, WHICH EMPHASIZES ASSESSING CLIENT NEEDS AND LINKING AVAILABLE COMMUNITY SERVICES WITH THOSE NEEDS. THE USE OF BOTH PARAPROFESSIONALS AND VOLUNTEERS IS A CENTRAL CONCERN. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT USE OF THE FORMER IS PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE IN CASES INVOLVING 'HIGH RISK' CLIENTS, AND THAT USE OF THE LATTER CAN RESULT IN LARGE COST SAVINGS. CASELOAD MANAGEMENT ISSUES ARE ALSO CRITICAL, BUT INSUFFICIENT RESEARCH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS ASSIGNMENT TECHNIQUES, LEVELS OF SUPERVISION, AND GENERALIZED VERSUS SPECIALIZED CASELOADS. FURTHERMORE, THE LITERATURE REVIEW REVEALS THAT (1) MOST PROBATION OFFICERS SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME IN THEIR OFFICES DOING PAPERWORK; (2) ALTHOUGH THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF MANY ALTERNATIVES IS NOT KNOWN, PROBATION IS CHEAPER THAN INSTITUTIONALIZATION; (3) EDUCATION AND TRAINING BENEFITS DECREASE OVER TIME FOR PROBATION OFFICERS; AND (4) PROBATION DEPARTMENTS, LOCAL AND STATE, KEEP LARGE AMOUNTS OF INFORMATION, BUT IN AN UNSYSTEMATIC MANNER. NO NATIONAL UNIFORM DATA COLLECTION OR STATISTICS MECHANISM ON PROBATION EXISTS, ALTHOUGH SUCH A SYSTEM IS FEASIBLE. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED.