NCJ Number
48334
Editor(s)
J MCCARTHY
Date Published
1976
Length
42 pages
Annotation
THE RATIONALE FOR BROADENING THE ONE-TO-ONE APPROACH TO PROBATION CASEWORK TO INCLUDE COMMUNITY WORK ON BEHALF OF A CLIENT IS PRESENTED, AND PLANS FOR IMPLEMENTATION ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE TRADITIONAL ONE-TO-ONE APPROACH TO PROBATION CASEWORK IS VIEWED BY THE WORKING PARTY TO BE BASED ON A PSYCHOANALYTIC APPROACH TO BEHAVIORAL CHANGE THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE TOO NARROW IN ITS EXCLUSION OF THE QUALITY OF CURRENT COMMUNITY STIMULI AS CRITICAL IN BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS. WHILE IT IS NOTED THAT CERTAIN PROBATION OFFICES AND INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS ACT AS CATALYSTS IN INFLUENCING VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT PROBATION AIMS, THERE IS NO DEVELOPED STRUCTURE FOR SUCH WORK, BASED ON RESEARCH AND ANALYZED EXPERIENCE. COMMUNITY WORK BY PROBATION OFFICES IS DEFINED AS 'ANY PROJECT RUN BY THE SERVICE (PROBATION OFFICE) FOR OR WITH ITS CLIENTS WHICH ATTEMPTS TO MAKE USE OF EXISTING COMMUNITY RESOURCES, HELPS THE CLIENT TO MEET THE COMMUNITY OR THE COMMUNITY TO MEET THE CLIENT.' SUCH WORK IS DIVIDED INTO THREE BROAD CATEGORIES: AGENCY AND INTERAGENCY COOPERATION INVOLVING THE COORDINATION OF ALL AVAILABLE COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR THE BENEFIT OF CLIENTS; THE PROVISION OF SERVICES FOR SPECIAL NEEDS INVOLVING A COMMUNITY APPROACH IN MEETING THE MATERIAL AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF CLIENTS; AND USING SELF-HELP GROUPS SO THAT CLIENTS BECOME INVOLVED IN NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS ESTABLISHED TO EFFECT CHANGE IN A SPECIFIC AREA OF NEIGHBORHOOD LIFE AND ENVIRONMENT. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF PROBATION SERVICES AND THE USE OF RESOURCES IS DISCUSSED. THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN DESCRIPTIONS OF PROBATION COMMUNITY WORK PROJECTS OPERATING THROUGHOUT ENGLAND AS OF 1976. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED.