WORK OF PROBATION OFFICERS AT THE SUNDVALL'S AGENCY - A TIME STUDY - SWEDEN

• NCJ Number: 64333
• Author(s): S ERICSSON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 69 pages
• Corporate Author: Kriminalvardsstyrelsen Utvecklingsenheten
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Country: Sweden

Annotation

THIS SWEDISH REPORT PRESENTS A STUDY OF HOW THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL PROBATION OFFICER AND SEVEN PROBATION OFFICERS OF THE SUNDSVALL PROBATION OFFICE USED THEIR TIME ON VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AND CONTACTS, BASED LARGELY ON WORK FOR OR WITH CLIENTS.

Abstract

A SELF-RECORDING METHOD WAS USED IN WHICH PARTICIPANTS FILLED IN A FORM EVERY 15 MINUTES AND RECORDED THEIR MAIN ACTIVITIES ACCORDING TO A PRECODED LIST. THE FIRST PERIOD OF THE STUDY COVERED 4 WEEKS DURING JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 1977, WHILE THE SECOND PERIOD COVERED 4 WEEKS DURING APRIL AND MAY 1977. THUS, SOMEWHAT MORE THAN 1,200 HOURS BECAME AVAILABLE FOR STUDY. FINDINGS SHOWED THAT WORK DEMANDS VARIED CONSIDERABLY DURING THESE PERIODS. HALF OF THE AVAILABLE TIME (21 HOURS PER WEEK) WAS DEVOTED TO WORK FOR OR WITH INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS, WHILE A QUARTER OF THE TIME (10 HOURS PER WEEK) WAS USED FOR WORK FOCUSED MORE GENERALLY OR INDIRECTLY UPON CLIENTS, SUCH AS CONFERENCES AND DISCUSSION GROUPS DEALING WITH POLICY AND PRACTICES USED WITH CLIENTS. STAFF MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES USED UP 18 PERCENT, OR 7 HOURS, PER WEEK OF AVAILABLE TIME. RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL INQUIRIES USED ONLY 1.5 PERCENT OF THE WORKERS' TIME. THE DIRECT WORK WITH CLIENTS REQUIRED CONTACT WITH FOUR MAIN GROUPS OF CLIENTS: PROBATIONERS, PAROLEES, INMATES IN LOCAL (PRISON) INSTITUTIONS, AND PERSONS REMANDED IN CUSTODY. A STRAIGHT COUNT OF HOURS USED SHOWED THAT EACH OFFICER WORKED ABOUT 12 HOURS PER WEEK WITH PROBATIONERS, 2.5 HOURS WITH PAROLEES, 5 HOURS WITH LOCAL INSTITUTION CASES, 3.5 PAROLEES, 4.5 LOCAL INSTITUTION CASES, AND 1 REMAND. AN INDEX OF RELATIVE TIME PER CATEGORY SHOWS THAT PROBATION CASES RECEIVED THE LEAST TIME (.78), PAROLEES GOT SOMEWHAT MORE (1.12), LOCAL INSTITUTION CASES GOT 1.84, AND REMANDS RECEIVED 2.28. THE FINDING THAT INSTITUTION CASES COMPRISED 16 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL CASELOAD BUT RECEIVED 31 PERCENT OF THE TIME RESOURCES, AS OPPOSED TO PROBATION OR PAROLE CASES THAT COMPRISED 84 PERCENT OF THE CASELOAD BUT RECEIVED 69 PERCENT OF THE TIME RESOURCES RAISES IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ASSESSMENT OF NEEDS AND THE ASSIGNMENT OF PRIORITIES. SEVEN TABLES PRESENT DATA. FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. --IN SWEDISH. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)