NCJ Number
40622
Date Published
1975
Length
19 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A CANADIAN STUDY UNDERTAKEN TO INVESTIGATE THE USES OF THE PRESENTENCE REPORT (PSR), THE FORMAT AND QUALITY OF THESE REPORTS, AND THE TIME AND EFFORT INVESTMENT MADE WHEN CONSTRUCTING THESE REPORTS.
Abstract
DATA FOR THIS STUDY WAS COLLECTED FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF SOURCES, INCLUDING INTERVIEWS WITH THE CANADIAN JUDICIARY, INTERVIEWS WITH PERSONS INVOLVED IN PROBATION AND CORRECTIONS, A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF 234 PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION REPORTS, SURVEYS OF PROBATION/PAROLE OFFICERS (P/PO), SURVEYS OF JUDGES, AND A SURVEY OF 19 REPRESENTATIVE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. FINDINGS OF THE STUDY ARE DISCUSSED WITH RESPECT TO FIVE MAJOR AREAS OF INVESTIGATION: FORMAT, STYLE, AND CONTENT OF REPORTS; TYPES OF INVESTIGATION MADE BY THE PROBATION/PAROLE OFFICER IN CONSTRUCTING THE REPORT; THE OFFICER'S WORKLOAD AND ROLE AS A PRESENTENCE REPORT WRITER; THE ROLE OF THE OFFICER IN MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT; AND THE USES MADE OF THE PRESENTENCE REPORT BY MANY GROUPS. RECOMMENDATIONS ON IMPROVEMENT OF EACH OF THESE FIVE AREAS ARE PROVIDED....DMC