FUTURE OF FEDERAL PROBATION - A FIELD OFFICER'S VIEW

• NCJ Number: 11494
• Journal: Federal Probation Volume: 37 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1973) Pages: 22-28
• Author(s): J LINDEN
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Administrative Office of the United States Courts
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EVALUATION OF PROFESSIONALISM IN THE FEDERAL PROBATION SERVICE AND OF THE SUCCESS OF THE SERVICE IN FULFILLING ITS REHABILITATIVE FUNCTION.

Abstract

A SELF-REPORT ATTITUDE SCALE WAS DEVELOPED TO MEASURE THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT THE FEDERAL PROBATION OFFICER PERCEIVED AS HIS OCCUPATIONAL ROLE AND HIS PROFESSIONAL IDEAL. THE STATISTICAL TECHNIQUE OF MULTIPLE REGRESSION WAS USED TO EXAMINE THE LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION ON EACH PROFESSIONAL ATTRIBUTE. THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE MORE EDUCATION THE PROBATION OFFICER HAD, THE MORE PROFESSIONAL FRUSTRATION HE FELT. NEGATIVE FORCES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THIS FRUSTRATION INCLUDE HEAVY WORKLOAD AND LACK OF AGREEMENT AS TO JOB FUNCTION. THE NEGATIVE IMAGE OF THE PROBATION OFFICER AS A BUREAUCRAT AND A SERVANT OF THE COURT IS CITED. THE AUTHOR PROPOSES THAT PROBATION SHOULD ADOPT CRIMINOLOGY AS ITS UNDERLYING DISCIPLINE AND THAT PROBATION SERVICES SHOULD BE AUTONOMOUS, RATHER THAN EXTENSIONS OF THE COURT. A DIVISION OF RESEARCH, EVALUATION, AND DEVELOPMENT IS PROPOSED TO IMPLEMENT THE SUGGESTED CHANGES.