PROBATION OFFICER AS THERAPIST - EXAMINATION OF THREE MAJOR PROBLEM AREAS

• NCJ Number: 61972
• Journal: Federal Probation Volume: 43 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1979) Pages: 14-19
• Author(s): S G DIETRICH
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Administrative Office of the United States Courts
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

PROBATION OFFICERS' PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS TO SERVE AS CHANGE AGENTS OR THERAPISTS, THE POTENTIALLY HARMFUL EFFECT OF SIMPLISTIC ADVICE OFFERED TO THEM, AND INHERENT ROLE CONFLICTS ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

THREE MAJOR PROBLEM AREAS ARE IDENTIFIED WHICH INVOLVE WIDENING THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE PROBATION OFFICER'S SUPERVISORY FUNCTION TO INCLUDE CLINICAL OR THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS. FIRST, PROBATION OFFICERS MAY NOT HAVE ADEQUATE EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS TO QUALIFY THEM FOR EFFECTIVE THERAPEUTIC COUNSELING. USUALLY, PROBATION OFFICERS HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND HAVE MAJORED IN AN AREA REQUIRING NO TRAINING IN A PARTICULAR FIELD RELEVANT FOR PROBATIONARY WORK. STUDY OF THE COMPLEXITIES OF PERSONALITY CHANGE IS NOT A PREREQUISITE FOR THE POSITION. SECOND, SIMPLISTIC, SHORT-TERM ADVICE IS OFFERED TO PROBATION OFFICERS; IT IS FREQUENTLY SUGGESTED THAT AN OFFICER SHOULD COVERTLY COERCE THE PROBATIONER INTO CHANGE BY GIVING PROPER HUMANISTIC INTERPERSONAL CONTACT. SUCH ADVICE TENDS TO BE VAGUE, CONTRADICTORY, AND DIFFICULT TO APPLY TO SPECIFIC SITUATIONS. IN ADDITION, A WARM, EMPATHETIC ATTITUDE CAN BE MISUNDERSTOOD BY THE PROBATIONER, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE OFFICER DOES NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND THE PROBATIONER'S FEELINGS . MISTRUST AND DOUBT CAN RESULT, NEGATING ANY POSITIVE HELP THE PROBATION OFFICER IS QUALIFIED TO GIVE. PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION IS NOT SIMPLE, AND THE ASSUMPTION OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR BEING 'HELPFUL' IN UNTRAINED AREAS SHOULD BE RECONSIDERED. FINALLY, THE REALISTIC LEGAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE OFFICER'S JOB PROHIBIT FULL CONFIDENTIALITY. IN A REAL SENSE, THE PROBATION OFFICER REPRESENTS BOTH THE PROBATIONER AND THE STATE. THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OFFICER SHOULD BE REEVALUATED IN RECOGNITION OF PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, LIMITATIONS, AND ROLE EXPECTATIONS. THE PROBATION OFFICER SHOULD FOLLOW THE MODEL OF A CASE MANAGER; WITH PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND RESOURCES, THE OFFICER SHOULD MAKE SUCH POSSIBILITIES AS VOCATIONAL PLACEMENT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO THE PROBATIONER. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)