NCJ Number
49481
Journal
Bewaehrungshilfe Volume: 25 Issue: 1 Dated: (1978) Pages: 14-23
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE POSITION OF THE PROBATION OFFICER IS ANALYZED, AND CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO THE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING NEEDED, AND TO THE ROLE THE OFFICER MUST PLAY.
Abstract
PROBATION OFFICERS ACT AS SOCIAL WORKERS WITHIN THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS. AFTER THE COURT HAS CHOSEN THE PROBATION OFFICER AS AN OFFICIAL ARM OF THE PENAL PROCESS, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OFFICER AND THE PROBATIONER BECOMES A PERSONAL ONE. IN THE COURSE OF HIS DUTIES, THE PROBATION OFFICER IS SUBJECTED TO MANY POTENTIALLY DESTRUCTIVE EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL FACTORS. THE MOST OUTSTANDING EXTERNAL FACTOR IS CASE OVERLOAD, A CHRONIC PROBLEM WHICH SERIOUSLY AFFECTS THE CRUCIAL PERSONAL VARIABLE NEEDED. OFFICERS ARE ALSO OVERWHELMED WITH THE NUMEROUS NEW FORMS OF THERAPY, MANY OF WHICH ARE DIFFICULT TO APPLY TO THE SITUATIONS COMMON TO OFFICER AND PROBATIONER. INTERNAL FACTORS ARE INTRINSIC TO THE PROFESSION ITSELF, AND INVOLVE THE FUNDAMENTAL ROLE THE PROBATION OFFICER MUST PLAY. AMONG THE MANY DIFFERENT ROLES AN OFFICER MIGHT PLAY ARE THE COUNSELOR TYPE, WHO ANSWERS QUESTIONS AND GIVES ADVICE, BUT RARELY TAKES THE INITIATIVE TO FORM A SOLID MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP; THE SOCIOLOGIST TYPE, WHO SEES THE PROBATIONER'S INDIVIDUAL ABILITIES AND WEAKNESSES AS LESS IMPORTANT THAN SOCIAL CONCERNS; AND THE INTELLECTUAL TYPE, WHOSE TREATMENT IS GUIDED BY KNOWLEDGE AND REASON, AND TO WHOM FACTS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT--HIS RELATIONSHIP TO THE PROBATIONER IS NOT ONE OF EMOTIONAL CLOSENESS BUT OF CLEAR-HEADED DISTANCE. IN ORDER TO BRING TOGETHER THE MOST BENEFICIAL AND WORKABLE ASPECTS OF EACH OF THE STEREOTYPICAL ROLES FOR PROBATION OFFICERS, THE CONCEPTS OF SOCIAL WORK AND CRIMINOLOGY NEED TO BE FURTHER DEFINED; PROBATION OFFICERS NEED TO BE GIVEN MORE FREEDOM IN THEIR WORK; THE ONEROUS CASELOAD SHOULD BE REDUCED, SO THAT IMPORTANT DUTIES ARE NOT NEGLECTED; AND THERE SHOULD BE FURTHER DEBATE ON THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE OFFICER'S CUSTODIAL FUNCTIONS TO HIS ROLE AS THERAPIST, SOCIAL WORKER, COUNSELOR, AND MEDIATOR. ADVANCED TRAINING IS RECOMMENDED. DIALOGUE BETWEEN EMPLOYERS, JUDGES, PROBATION OFFICERS, AND LEGAL ASSISTANTS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED, AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS CAN ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW MODELS AND TESTING NEW CONCEPTS. FOR AN ENGLISH SUMMARY TRANSLATION, SEE NCJ #53170. --IN GERMAN. (MHP)