NCJ Number
130866
Journal
Perspectives Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: (Winter 1991) Pages: 20-25
Date Published
1991
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article reports on the results of a survey by the Middle Atlantic States Correctional Association designed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of on-duty victimization incidents involving probation and parole officers.
Abstract
Over 15,000 questionnaires were sent to the total probation and parole workforce in the region (Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont). Approximately 7,000 (46 percent) completed questionnaires were returned. Findings indicate that 62 percent of the respondents had experienced some kind of victimization during their careers; 35 percent reported at least one such incident during the 12 months preceding the survey. In each State, those who were physically assaulted were no more than one-third of the respondents. By far the greatest number of victimizations across the region involved verbal threats and intimidation. Parole officers were more likely than probation officers to be victimized, and the officers who carry weapons or have had unarmed self-defense training were more likely to be involved in hazardous incidents. Most of the perpetrators were probationers and parolees. Although most who had been victimized reported their agencies could have done nothing to prevent the incident, a significant percentage believed their agencies could have done more to prepare them to deal with such incidents. The respondents rated suggestions for increasing officer safety during supervisory work in the community. 3 references and 10 tables