INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES IN PROBATION AND PAROLE, PART 2 THE ART OF LISTENING

• NCJ Number: 61977
• Journal: Federal Probation Volume: 43 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1979) Pages: 55-62
• Author(s): H HARTMAN
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Administrative Office of the United States Courts
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

VARIOUS OBSERVATIONS WHICH SHOULD BE MADE BY THE PROBATION OFFICER WHILE INTERVIEWING THE PROBATIONER, AND THE INFORMATION WHICH CAN BE OBATINED FROM SUCH OBSERVATIONS, ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

IN AN ATTEMPT TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBATIONER'S BEHAVIOR WHICH IS FREQUENTLY BAFFLING AND ILLOGICAL, THE PROBATION OFFICER MUST USE ALL POSSIBLE CUES. VISUAL AND AURAL OBSERVATIONS ARE IMPORTANT, AS ARE LISTENING TO MEANING AND 'LISTENING TO SILENCE.' THE TYPES OF OBSERVATION DISCUSSED HEREIN SHOULD ENABLE THE PROBATION OFFICER TO MODIFY AND EXPAND THE IMPRESSIONS ABOUT THE CLIENT'S PERSONALITY OBTAINED FROM INITIAL REPORTS. REGARDING VISUAL OBSERVATIONS, THE OFFICER SHOULD NOTE WHETHER THE CLIENT IS ATTRACTIVE OR UNATTRACTIVE SINCE THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN SELF-CONCEPT BETWEEN THESE TWO GROUPS OF PEOPLE. EXTREMES IN HEIGHT OR WEIGHT, BUCK TEETH, AND MISSING EXTREMITIES SHOULD ALSO BE OBSERVED AS POSSIBLE CLUES TO BEHAVIOR. DRESS FACTORS, NEATNESS, BEARING, MANNER, AND GENERAL BEHAVIOR SHOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED. SIGNS INDICATIVE OF ANXIETY OR OTHER EMOTIONAL REACTIONS SUCH AS TREMOR, SWEATING, AND FOOT KICKING ARE ALSO INDICATIVE OF THE CLIENT'S PERSONALITY. AURAL OBSERVATIONS SHOULD BE EQUALLY THOROUGH, AND THE OFFICER SHOULD NOTE TONE, VOCABULARY, POSSIBLE INSECURITY OR HESITANCY, AND SPEECH DEFECTS. LISTENING TO THE MEANING OF WHAT IS SAID INVOLVES CAREFUL OBSERVATION OF THE PROBATIONER'S CHOICE OF TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION, MANNER OF DESCRIPTION, AND EMOTIONS DISPLAYED DURING THE DISCUSSIONS; AT THIS LEVEL, ATTITUDES AND DEFENSES ARE FREQUENTLY REVEALED AS WELL AS REPRESSED MOTIVATIONS. LISTENING TO SILENCE MEANS RECOGNIZING ITS SIGNIFICANCE AND KNOWING HOW TO DEAL WITH IT. SILENCE DURING A FIRST INTERVIEW INDICATES TENSION AND SHOULD BE COUNTERED WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF A SPECIFIC TOPIC OF CONVERSATION. SILENCE MAY ALSO OCCUR WHEN A PARTICULARLY MEANINGFUL TOPIC IS BEING DISCUSSED AND THE PROBATIONER SUDDENLY STOPS TALKING; THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SUCH BEHAVIOR SHOULD BE NOTED. THE SENSE OF SMELL AND THE SENSE OF TOUCH WHEN SHAKING HANDS MAY PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION USEFUL TO THE OFFICER. A FOOTNOTE IS PROVIDED IN THE ARTICLE. (LWM)