NCJ Number
59330
Date Published
1979
Length
279 pages
Annotation
OPERATIONAL AND THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF PROBATION AND PAROLE ARE OFFERED IN THIS 1979 VOLUME FOR STUDENTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
IN SERVING AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION ABOUT PROBATION AND PAROLE, THIS VOLUME PROVIDES A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE FUNCTIONS OF PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICERS AND EXPLAINS REASONS FOR THE PUBLIC'S CONFUSION ABOUT THE NATURE AND ROLE OF THE TWO OFFICERS. TYPES OF CLIENTS APPEARING BEFORE THE PROBATION OR PAROLE OFFICER AND THE CRIMES THEY COMMIT ARE DESCRIBED, AS WELL AS PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILES OF THE CRIMINAL PERSONALITY. PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL TREATMENT TECHNIQUES ARE EXAMINED IN LIGHT OF RECENT NEGATIVE FINDINGS CONCERNING THE VALUE OF VARIOUS TREATMENT PROGRAMS. A FICTITIOUS LONG-FORM, PRESENTENCE PROBATION INVESTIGATION HIGHLIGHTS THE OPTIONS OPEN TO THE JUDGE CONCERNING WHETHER TO COMMIT THE DEFENDANT OR TO PLACE HIM UNDER PROBATION OR PAROLE. IN ADDITION, THE SHORT-FORM PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION FORM IS ILLUSTRATED; THIS FORM OFTEN ALLOWS THE PROBATION OFFICER TO INCREASE HIS OUTPUT BY 50 PERCENT. A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF PROBATION, PAROLE, AND THE PRESENTENCE REPORT LEADS TO AN EXAMINATION OF THE ACTUAL PROCEDURES PERFORMED BY PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICERS FROM INITIAL CONTACT TO FINAL DECISIONMAKING. ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO ABSOLUTE FORMULA FOR TREATMENT SUCCESS, SEVERAL TREATMENT ORIENTATIONS USED IN PROBATION AND PAROLE ARE ASSESSED, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE GROUP THERAPY SETTING. STATISTICS INDICATE THAT RECIDIVISM IS HIGH AMONG ALL OFFENDERS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE RECEIVED TREATMENT DURING PROBATION OR PAROLE. SUGGESTIONS TO ABATE THE RECIDIVISM RATE ARE PROPOSED. FACTORS CONSTITUTING PROBATION AND PAROLE VIOLATIONS ARE DESCRIBED, AS WELL AS THE OFFICER'S RESPONSE IN SPECIFIC SITUATIONS. PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN TREATMENT OF THE OFFENDER, AN OVERVIEW OF THE CAUSES OF CRIME, AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CRIME RATES AND TREATMENT METHODS ARE EXPLORED. IN ADDITION, CONFLICTS ARISING BETWEEN THE PROBATION AND PAROLE SUPERVISOR AND HIS SUBORDINATES ARE DISCUSSED IN THE INTEREST OF EFFICIENT OPERATION OF THE INCREASINGLY UNWIELDY CRIME CONTROL AND TREATMENT AGENCIES. FINALLY, EFFORTS OF, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR, VOLUNTEERS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS TO ENGAGE IN COUNSELING ACTIVITIES ARE NOTED, WITH BRIEF MENTION BEING GIVEN TO THE FUTURE OF THE PROBATION AND PAROLE SYSTEM. AN INDEX AND TABLE OF CASES ARE APPENDED. EXTENSIVE FOOTNOTES AND SOME CHARTS ACCOMPANY THE TEXT. (WJR)