NCJ Number
93339
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 27 Issue: 3 Dated: (1983) Pages: 265-269
Date Published
1983
Length
5 pages
Annotation
In Georgia, probation officers are being trained to perform psychological evaluations on convicted offenders through the administration and interpretation of psychological tests and a clinical interview.
Abstract
The great demand for psychological evaluations of offenders and a lack of available funding for additional behavior specialists has led to Georgia's training other probation personnel to perform psychological evaluations. The officers selected for the training must exhibit an interest in assuming the additional responsibility of preparing psychological evaluations, demonstrate competence and responsibility in their present jobs, and have a master's degree in social science. The selected officers attend a course consisting of 3 weeks of study, with each week separated from the next 3 months so as to permit the use of the skills they have been taught. The first week covers introductory topics such as standardized procedures in the presentence assessment program, the importance of having a clear reason for referral prior to doing an evaluation, and establishing a proper testing environment that will put the testee at ease and motivate him/her to perform well in the testing situation. Students are then provided with testing materials and instruction in administering, scoring, and interpreting the Wide Range Achievement Test, Quick Test, and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Time is allotted in the classroom for participants to pair off and practice the administration of each test. The second week of training provides instruction in administration, scoring, and interpretation of the Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test, the Sixteen Personality Factor Test, and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Students observe a clinical interview and practice clinically interviewing one another. Most of the final week of instruction is spent in developing a format for a comprehensive clinical interview and becoming comfortable in the interview situation. Instruction is also provided in writing a clear, accurate, psychological report and in making specific and useful treatment recommendations. At the end of the 3 weeks, a homework assignment requires the students to complete three psychological evaluations on actual probationers using the tests covered in the training as well as interview data. Finally, students must pass a comprehensive written test on psychopathology, testing, report writing, and policy procedures; they must then appear before a certification board.