NCJ Number
44698
Date Published
1977
Length
65 pages
Annotation
A STUDY OF THE PERCEIVED ROLES AND ATTITUDES OF 247 PROBATION, PAROLE, AND AFTERCARE OFFICERS IN ONTARIO'S MINISTRY OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES IS DOCUMENTED.
Abstract
PERSONAL INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH 138 PROBATION/PAROLE OFFICERS AND 109 PROBATION/AFTERCARE SERVICE OFFICERS AT ALL LEVELS OF THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM BETWEEN MAY AND NOVEMBER 1976. THE OFFICERS' GENERAL PERCEPTION OF THEIR ROLE AS THAT OF SOCIAL WORKER CONTRASTS WITH THE PUBLIC'S VIEW OF THE OFFICER AS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENT. THE OFFICERS CITED COURTS, REPORTS, AND COMMUNICATIONS AS AREAS OF MAJOR CONCERN, NOTING A LACK OF APPRECIATION FOR THEIR TIME ON THE PART OF JUDGES. THE OFFICERS WERE CRITICAL OF THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXAMINATION, WITH OVER HALF OF THE RESPONDENTS OBJECTING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE EXAMINATION BE COMPLETED BEFORE AN UPGRADE IN STATUS IS GRANTED. SENIOR OFFICERS AND SUPERVISORS WERE PARTICULARLY CRITICAL OF THE EXAMINATION. THE SUBJECTS ALSO EXPRESSED SKEPTICISM REGARDING PROMOTIONAL POLICIES. THE AVERAGE CASELOAD FOR THE PROBATION/PAROLE OFFICER WAS 81; FOR THE PROBATION/AFTERCARE OFFICER, 37. MANY EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE LARGE CASELOADS LIMITED THEIR EFFECTIVENESS. MOST OFFICERS VALUED THE ASSISTANCE OF VOLUNTEERS IN HANDLING CASELOADS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE PROBATION/PAROLE AND AFTERCARE OFFICERS SPEND AN AVERAGE OF 0.83 AND 1.68 HOURS PER MONTH, RESPECTIVELY, IN DIRECT CLIENT COUNSELING FOR EACH CASE, COMPARED WITH 5 AND 10.7 HOURS SPENT 'WAITING AROUND' IN COURT. OVERALL, THE OFFICERS INDICATED HIGH SATISFACTION WITH THEIR JOBS AND LOW TENSION LEVELS, ALTHOUGH LINE STAFF INDICATED LESS SATISFACTION AND GREATER TENSION THAN DID SENIOR AND SUPERVISORY STAFF. SUPPORTING DATA AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LM)