DEVELOPMENTS AND EXPERIENCES IN THE DRAFT AND EXECUTION OF WORKSHOPS FOR NEWLY HIRED PROBATION OFFICERS IN THE GERMAN PROBATION SERVICE

• NCJ Number: 56789
• Journal: DEUTSCHE BEWAEHRUNGSHILFE Volume: 26 Issue: 1 Dated: (1979) Pages: 12-27
• Author(s): G OBSTFELD
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: German
• Country: West Germany (Former)

Annotation

THE NATURE AND PHILOSOPHY OF INSERVICE TRAINING SEMINARS FOR NEW PROBATION OFFICERS CONDUCTED BY THE WEST GERMAN ASSOCIATION OF PROBATION OFFICERS ARE DESCRIBED.

Abstract

THE SEMINARS HAVE BEEN PLANNED SINCE THE ORGANIZATION'S FOUNDING IN 1953 AND ACTIVELY DEVELOPED SINCE 1962, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON TRAINING IN THE PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL LAW. ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO SENSITIZE WORKERS THROUGH SENSITIVITY TRAINING (1963 - 1973) AND SUBSEQUENTLY THROUGH THEMATIC INTERACTIONAL GROUP DISCUSSIONS PLANNED BY A SPECIAL PLANNING GROUP WHICH MEETS AT THE END OF EACH SEMINAR DAY (1973 TO PRESENT). RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUCH SEMINARS INCLUDE A COMBINATION OF INTERACTIONAL GROUP DISCUSSIONS WITH A CLASSIC GROUP DYNAMICS FORMAT USING ROLE PLAYING, PRACTICE SESSIONS AND OTHER DIVERSE METHODS; GENERAL PARTICIPATION; CONDUCT OF SEMINARS ON A NATIONAL RATHER THAN A STATE BASIS; EMPHASIS ON LEGAL ASPECTS OF SOCIAL WORK TO SATISFY GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS AND ON PRACTICAL WORK BEHAVIOR RATHER THAN JUST INFORMATION EXCHANGE; PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF THE MOTIVATIONS AND FEARS OF SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS; CONSTANT AWARENESS OF THE DIFFICULTY INVOLVED IN MEETING VARYING EXPECTATIONS OF PARTICIPANTS, ESPECIALLY OF MORE POLITICALLY ALERT AND DEMANDING OR OF UNMOTIVATED INDIVIDUALS; ASSISTANCE OF EXPERIENCED PROBATION OFFICERS IN CONDUCTING SEMINARS; AND RECOGNITION THAT NO ULTIMATE STRUCTURAL FORM EXISTS FOR SUCH SEMINARS. NOTES, AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM ORGANIZATION, AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)