NCJ Number
61480
Date Published
1979
Length
30 pages
Annotation
A WORKLOAD STUDY WAS CONDUCTED TO HELP THE DIVISION OF ADULT PROBATION AND PAROLE IDENTIFY PROBLEMS, SET STANDARDS, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS WITH REGARD TO HOW OFFICERS USE THEIR TIME.
Abstract
THE STUDY IDENTIFIED THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT WORKING ON SPECIFIC DUTIES THROUGH DAILY TIME SHEETS FILLED OUT BY 174 RANDOMLY SELECTED PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICERS WHO CATEGORIZED THEIR MAJOR DUTIES. THE DATA WAS SUMMARIZED TO PROVIDE WEEKLY OFFICER SUMMARIES, BRANCH SUMMARIES, AND ONE OVERALL WEEKLY SUMMARY ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF MINUTES SPENT ON EACH TASK. APPROXIMATELY 800 DAILY TIME SHEETS WERE SUBMITTED EACH WEEK. ONLY 26 PERCENT OF THE AVERAGE WORK WEEK WAS SPENT IN ACTUAL SUPERVISION OF CLIENTS. THE REST OF THE TIME WAS SPENT ON OTHER DUTIES WHICH SUPPORT EITHER SUPERVISION OR INVESTIGATIONS, INCLUDING COURT, CLERICAL, AND TRAVEL TIME. REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS OF THE OFFICERS' WORKLOADS, AS REVEALED BY THIS STUDY, INCLUDE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF (1) EMPLOYMENT OF ADDITIONAL PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICERS, (2) AN INCREASE IN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PRESENT OFFICERS, (3) ADDITION OF SPECIALIZED OFFICERS, AND (4) UTILIZATION OF ADDITIONAL RESOURCES SUCH AS DIVERSION PROGRAMS. RESULTS OF THE TABULATION OF THE DAILY TIME SHEETS ARE SHOWN IN GRAPHS WHICH ACCOMPANY THE REPORT. A TEST OF SAMPLE VALIDITY IS INCLUDED IN THE APPENDIX. (RFC)