NCJ Number
17528
Date Published
1973
Length
58 pages
Annotation
OBSERVATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS CONCERNING THE NEEDS OF PROBATION OFFICERS AND PROBATION DEPARTMENTS BASED ON THE COMBINED DATA FROM FIVE REGIONAL WORKSHOPS AND A YEAR'S WORK WITH STATE PROBATION DEPARTMENTS DURING 1973.
Abstract
THE PLANNING APPROACH USED BY THIS PROJECT IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL, WITH EMPHASIS BEING PLACED ON THE EFFORT MADE TO INVOLVE PROBATION OFFICERS AND JUDGES IN THE PLANNING STAGE. THE ACTUAL PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN IS ALSO DISCUSSED. BOTH GENERAL PROBATION NEEDS AND SPECIFIC TRAINING NEEDS ARE PRESENTED IN THE NEEDS ANALYSIS. THE GENERAL NEEDS COVER A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS. THESE INCLUDE IMPROVED PLACEMENT FACILITIES, COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS BETWEEN COMPONENTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, PUBLIC AWARENESS OF PROBATION WORK, THE PROBATION OFFICER'S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GENERAL PROBLEMS OF CASELOAD MANAGEMENT. THE TRAINING NEEDS COVERED ARE INTERVIEW AND COUNSELING TECHNIQUES, EXCHANGING IDEAS BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS, TREATMENT PROGRAMS, MANAGEMENT SKILLS, AND KNOWLEDGE OF LAW AND PROCEDURES. TABULAR REPORTS SUMMARIZE THE MORE EXTENSIVE NARRATIVE COMMENTS WHICH ARE CONTAINED IN INDIVIDUAL REPORTS WRITTEN ON EACH WORKSHOP. THE FINDINGS ON HOW PROBATION MANPOWER WAS SERVED BY THIS FIRST YEAR'S PROJECT ARE SUMMARIZED AND THE EVALUATION METHODS EMPLOYED IN ASSESSING THE PROJECT'S DIRECTION AND EFFECTIVENESS ARE DESCRIBED. A NUMBER OF EVALUATIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THE APPENDIXES AS EXAMPLES OF THE KINDS OF EVALUATIONS MADE.