NCJ Number
60561
Journal
Journal of Social Issues Volume: 34 Issue: 4 Dated: (1978) Pages: 57-75
Date Published
1978
Length
19 pages
Annotation
BASED ON OBSERVATIONS AND INTERVIEWS, THIS PAPER ANALYZES METHODS USED BY PAROLE OFFICERS TO CLASSIFY CLIENTS AND CONCLUDED THAT BUREAUCRATIC CONSIDERATIONS, RATHER THAN CLIENTS' OR SOCIETY'S NEEDS, DETERMINE MOST TYPING
Abstract
IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH REHABILITATION, A PAROLE AGENCY MUST CLASSIFY CLIENTS ON THE BASIS OF WHETHER THEY CAN BE REHABILITATED OR MERELY CONTROLLED. SINCE PAROLE OFFICERS (PO'S) ARE EVALUATED BY SUCCESS IN THEIR CASELOAD, THEY TEND TO MANIPULATE THE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. PAROLEE TYPING HAS FOUR STAGES, EACH ASSOCIATED WITH A SOURCE OF INFORMATION: (1) THE SKELETON DOSSIER WHICH CONTAINS THE CRIMINAL RECORD, PHOTOGRAPH, AND PRISON ASSESSMENT; (2) A SITE INVESTIGATION WHICH VERIFIES NAMES AND ADDRESSES GIVEN IN THE PAROLE PLAN AND PROVIDES THE PO WITH LEVERS FOR CONTROL, SUCH AS FAMILY OR JOB COMMITMENTS; (3) INITIAL INTERVIEWS WITH PAROLEE TO EVALUATE CONTROLLABILITY; AND (4) SUBSEQUENT INTERVIEWS WHICH OCCUR OVER LONGER PERIODS OF TIME. IF A PO LABELS A MAN DANGEROUS, I.E.; ONE WHO CANNOT BE CONTROLLED ABSOLUTELY, THE OFFICER THEN IS EXPECTED TO ESTABLISH AN EXTENSIVE SUPERVISION SCHEDULE BEFORE ULTIMATELY RECOMMENDING REVOCATION OF PAROLE. THUS, THIS TYPING INCREASES THE PO'S WORKLOAD AND IS VIEWED ONLY AS A LAST RESORT. ADDITIONALLY, PO'S CLASSIFY ADDICTS AS VOCATIONALLY OR EMOTIONALLY HANDICAPPED, AND VIOLENT OFFENDERS AS NONCRIMINALS, PO'S ALSO ASSESS SINCERITY OR WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE IN COUNSELING OR THERAPY BEFORE ACCEPTING THE PAROLEES' ONTO THEIR CASELOADS. THE AVERAGE CASELOAD CAN THEN BE DIVIDED INTO THREE GROUPS: THE DANGEROUS PAROLEES AND THE SINCERE CLIENTS WHO ARE SEEN FREQUENTLY BY THE PO, AND THE 'PAPER MEN' WHO, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE THE MAJORITY, NEITHER DISRUPT THE BUREAUCRACY NOR GIVE SATISFACTION TO THE PO AND ARE THUS SEEN INFREQUENTLY. THE AUTHOR RELATES HIS FINDINGS TO MERTON'S THEORY OF THE BUREAUCRATIC PERSONALITY IN WHICH THE ORIGINAL GOAL OF THE BUREAUCRAT TO SERVE CLIENTS FAIRLY BECOMES SUBSERVIENT TO THE GOAL OF FOLLOWING ORDERS AND AVOIDING TROUBLE. THIS PHENOMENA IMPAIRS ANY CLIENT TYPING SCHEME. A SHORT LIST OF REFERENCE IS APPENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--MJM)