NCJ Number
161180
Date Published
1996
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Sixty-two experienced probation officers from four probation areas in England were surveyed regarding the basic skills, knowledge, and qualities required to perform their job.
Abstract
The participants included 32 females and 30 males. Twenty-five had general caseloads; 37 were in full-time specialties. The analysis focused on the concept of competence and the essential nature of the day-to-day skills of communication, assessment, intervention, and professional relationships. The results also highlighted the need for knowledge and dynamic critical analysis. Results revealed that the fundamental social work skills taught in depth in universities are essential to the task of working with offenders toward purposeful change. Such skills must be placed firmly in the context of criminological and penological perspectives, and students must be taught to analyze and evaluate their own performance in this area. This foundation is vital for an organization that rightly requires high-quality work aimed at reducing crime and that can also depend on its professionally trained staff to set and achieve sound standards while holding paramount its unique role linking society and the offender. 30 references