NCJ Number
142127
Journal
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 8 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1992) Pages: 273-282
Date Published
1992
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The 1992 legal codes for all 50 States were analyzed to locate the roles of probation officers as prescribed by State laws.
Abstract
Results revealed that enforcement-oriented tasks, not rehabilitative tasks, were most often prescribed. In fact, of the 22 statutory tasks identified in State legal codes, only four were oriented to treatment or rehabilitation. The most commonly prescribed tasks were the supervision of probationers (43 States), followed by the writing of pre- sentence investigation reports (42 States), and investigating cases of existing probationers (33 States). This finding contrasts with the results of previous research, which has focused on the preferred and actual roles of probation officers while neglecting the legally prescribed roles. This previous research has found rehabilitation to be the primary function of probation officers. Findings indicate an absence of consensus regarding the probation function and the need for further research regarding organizational goals and the roles of probation officers. Table and 22 references (Author abstract modified)