NCJ Number
45868
Date Published
1976
Length
51 pages
Annotation
CHALLENGES AND TRENDS FOR PROFESSIONALS IN THE AREA OF PAROLE AND PROBATION ARE DISCUSSED, AND WORKSHOPS ON MANPOWER DEPLOYMENT, TRAINING, RESEARCH, ADMINISTRATION, TREATMENT, AND PROFESSIONAL ROLES ARE SUMMARIZED.
Abstract
CHALLENGES IN THE FIELD OF PAROLE AND PROBATION INCLUDE A COHESIVE EFFORT TO PROMOTE PROFESSIONALISM, THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW IMAGE FOR PROBATION AND PAROLE PRACTITIONERS, AND REDUCTION OF FRAGMENTATION IN THE FIELD. MEETING THIS CHALLENGE WILL REQUIRE PROFESSIONAL SOLIDARITY, EFFECTIVE MODES AND MODELS OF COMMUNICATION, SHARED TECHNOLOGY, AND IMAGINATION. TO AID IN MEETING THESE GOALS, THE AMERICAN PROBATION AND PAROLE ASSOCIATION IS PUBLISHING A NEWSLETTER, PROVIDING CONSULTATION SERVICES, AND DEVELOPMENT ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS AND STUDIES. IN ADDITION, THE AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION HAS DEVELOPED OVER 1,200 STANDARDS FOR USE IN THE ACCREDITATION PROCESSES WHICH WILL BE TESTED AND PREPARED FOR PUBLICATION IN A MANUAL. PROCEDURES AND MECHANISMS FOR ACCREDITATION ARE ALSO BEING DEVELOPED. A MAJOR PROBLEM FACING PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD IS DEALING WITH LARGE CASELOADS; SEVERAL WORKLOAD MANAGEMENT METHODS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED WHICH SHOULD AID IN THE RESOLUTION OF THIS PROBLEM. THE DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE DIAGNOSTIC AND CLASSIFICATION TECHNIQUES AND CENTERS WILL BE REQUIRED IF CASELOADS ARE TO BE HANDLED EFFECTIVELY. MORE AND BETTER TRAINING AND INCREASED SPECIALIZATION FOR OFFICERS WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED. THE GREATER UTILIZATION OF PARAPROFESSIONALS AND VOLUNTEERS AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCES MAY ALSO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS INHERENT IN LARGE CASELOADS. THE IMPACT OF THE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS IN MORRISSEY VS. BREWER AND IN GAGNON VS. SCARPELLI ON THE PROBATION AND PAROLE SUPERVISION PROCESS WAS DISCUSSED, AS WERE PROBLEMS ENGENDERED BY THE LACK OF UNIFORM APPROACHES AMONG THE STATES TO PAROLE AND PROBATION VIOLATIONS. UTILIZATION OF VOLUNTEERS IN PAROLE AND PROBATION WAS EXAMINED, AND POSITIVE ASPECTS (SUCH AS INCREASED COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT) AND NEGATIVE ASPECTS (SUCH AS INCREASED TRAINING AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS) WERE WEIGHED. IT WAS DECIDED THAT, DESPITE PROBLEMS, VOLUNTEERS CAN AID IN CLIENT READJUSTMENT. ISSUES OF TREATMENT AND PUNISHMENT IN PAROLE/PROBATION WERE DELINEATED, AND PROGRAMS IN PUEBLO, COLORADO, AND IN GEORGIA WERE DESCRIBED. THE ROLE OF WOMEN ON PROBATION/PAROLE STAFFS, AND PARTICULARLY IN TEAM TREATMENT APPROACHES, WAS ANALYZED. PUBLIC DISSATISFACTION WAS SEEN WITH THE SENTENCING PROCESS, PARTICULARLY REGARDING THE RELATIVELY SHORT SENTENCES ACTUALLY SERVED, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS WERE ADVISED. WORKSHOPS ALSO DEALT WITH CASELOAD MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES, PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, STAFF DEVELOPMENT DESIGN, AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF RESEARCH AND PLANNING NEEDS. FINALLY, THE ROLE OF THE PROBATION/PAROLE OFFICER AS CONFIDANT, SUPERVISOR, COUNSELOR, INVESTIGATOR, AUTHORITY FIGURE, ADVOCATE, REFERRAL SOURCE, PUNISHER, AND RESOURCE MANAGER IS EXAMINED. (JAP)