NCJ Number
57673
Date Published
1978
Length
135 pages
Annotation
RESEARCH IN PROBATION MANAGEMENT, PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION REPORTS, PROBATION TREATMENT, PROBATION INNOVATIONS, AND RESEARCH PRIORITIES IN PROBATION ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
WITH FEW NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS, THE STATE OF RESEARCH RELATING TO PROBATION IS QUITE POOR. REASONS FOR THIS INADEQUACY INCLUDE THE FACT THAT PROBATION REMAINS PRIMARILY A LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNCTION, PROBATION PERSONNEL ARE NOT TRAINED IN BASIC RESEARCH TECHNIQUES, AND PROBATION IS NOT A WELL-FINANCED CORRECTIONAL ACTIVITY. THE MAJOR PROBLEM IS THE LACK OF A SYSTEMATIC DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM DESPITE INFORMATION SYSTEMS ADVANCES MADE IN OTHER AREAS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, RELATIVELY LITTLE HAS BEEN DONE IN THE PROBATION FIELD. FURTHERMORE, PROBATION MANAGEMENT IS INCONSISTENT; WHEN PROBATION IS DECENTRALIZED, IT TENDS ALSO TO BE PLACED UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE JUDICIAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, WHEN CENTRALIZED, IT USUALLY IS LOCATED IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. OTHER RESEARCH ISSUES IN THIS AREA INCLUDE ROLES OF PROBATION OFFICERS, CASELOAD MANGEMENT, PROVISION OF PROBATION SERVICES, USE OF VOLUNTEERS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS, AND STANDARDS FOR PROBATION. PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION REPORTS RESEARCH HAS FOCUSED UPON REPORT PREPARATION, REPORT CONTENT, AND REPORT IMPACT. PROBATION TREATMENT RESEARCH INVOLVES SUCH SUBJECTS AS PREDICTION, CLASSIFICATION, TREATEMENT, VOCATIONAL COUNSELING AND EMPLOYMENT, GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, DRUG TREATMENT, AND VOLUNTARY VS. INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT. PROBATION INNOVATIONS RESEARCH INCLUDES INVESTIGATION OF SHOCK PROBATION, PROBATION SUBSIDY, SPECIALIZED EMPLOYMENT AND GUIDANCE PROGRAMS, RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS, RESTITUTION, AND OUTREACH CENTERS, FINALLY, RESEARCH PRIORITIES SHOULD INCLUDE ANALYSIS OF THE PROBATION THEORY, ESTABLISHMENT OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND DATA BASES FROM WHICH RESEARCH MAY BE CONDUCTED, AND POLICY AND PROGRAM LEVEL RESEARCH DESIGNED TO ADDRESS BOTH POLICY AND AGENCY LEVEL ISSUES. AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (LWM)