ASSESSMENT OF PROBATION TREATMENT ISSUES (FROM PROBATION ON TRIAL, 1977, BY DON M GOTTFREDSON ET AL - SEE NCJ-48161)

• NCJ Number: 48167
• Author(s): J R STORTI
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 33 pages
• Corporate Author: Rutgers University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

VOCATIONAL COUNSELING, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, VOLUNTARY VERSUS INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT, DRUG TREATMENT, AND THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS ARE THE ASPECTS CONSIDERED.

Abstract

THE TREATMENT TECHNIQUES THAT HAVE BEEN USED IN ADULT PROBATION GENERALLY INTEND, THROUGH VARIOUS MEANS, TO INCREASE THE PROBATIONER'S SELF-IMAGE, SELF-ESTEEM, AND SELF-CONFIDENCE IN THE BELIEF THAT ACCOMPLISHING THIS WILL REDUCE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. IN THE AREA OF VOCATIONAL COUNSELING AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, IT IS INDICATED THAT THE USE OF DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES, VARIOUS INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS, COUNSELING, AND JOB REFERRAL HAVE BEEN USED WITH SOME PROMISING RESULTS. COUNSELING TECHNIQUES ARE POPULAR IN PROBATION TREATMENT PROGRAMS, YET IT IS NOTED THE STUDIES REVIEWED RARELY EXPLAINED THE SPECIFIC COUNSELING METHODS USED, THUS LEAVING ILL-DEFINED CAUSE AND EFFECT RELATIONSHIPS MAKING EVALUATION MEANINGLESS. IN ASSESSING STUDIES RELATING TO THE ISSUE OF VOLUNTARY VERSUS INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT, THE NATURE OF THE EVIDENCE WAS SUCH THAT QUESTIONS OF EFFECTIVENESS (AS DISTINCT FROM MORAL ISSUES) COULD NOT BE RESOLVED. THE DRUG TREATMENT STUDIES REVIEWED INCLUDED THE USE OF METHADONE MAINTENANCE, SPECIALIZED CASELOADS OF DRUG OFFENDERS, REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND A SYSTEM OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK AS TREATMENT METHODS. THE TREATMENTS OFTEN ARE DESCRIBED SKETCHILY, AND MANY OF THE STUDIES ARE CONSIDERED TO SUFFER FROM DOUBTFUL CONCLUSIONS. THE STUDIES, HOWEVER, ARE VIEWED AS POINTING TO A NUMBER OF DRUG TREATMENT METHODS THAT WARRANT FURTHER INVESTIGATION. IN THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS IN ADULT PROBATION, THE RESEARCH IS DEEMED QUITE LIMITED; HOWEVER, CONCLUSIONS REPORTED FROM THE FEW EXISTING STUDIES INDICATE SUCCESS IN THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS, PARAPROFESSIONALS, AND INDIGENOUS PERSONS IN PROBATION SERVICES. IT IS GENERALLY CONCLUDED THAT RESEARCH IN THE AREA OF TREATMENT MODALITIES FOR ADULT PROBATIONERS IS SUPRISINGLY LIMITED. NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)