CRITICAL ISSUES IN ADULT PROBATION - TECHNICAL ISSUE PAPER ON DOMESTIC INNOVATIONS IN ADULT PROBATION

• NCJ Number: 57670
• Author(s): P C FRIDAY
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 86 pages
• Grant Number(s): 77-NI-99-0001
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Ohio State University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RESEARCH ON INNOVATIONS IN ADULT PROBATION IS REVIEWED THAT SPECIFICALLY FOCUSES ON SHOCK PROBATION, SPECIALIZED EMPLOYMENT AND GUIDANCE, PROBATION SUBSIDY, RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT, RESTITUTION, AND OUTREACH.

Abstract

AS A LEGAL MEASURE, PROBATION IS DESIGNED TO FILL THE GAP BETWEEN SANCTION AND TREATMENT AND TO MITIGATE THE EXECUTION OF PENALTIES (GENERALLY INCARCERATION). THE OBJECTIVE IS TO AVOID DISADVANTAGES OF PRISON EXPERIENCE WHILE FULFILLING SOCIETAL GOALS OF PROTECTION, REHABILITATION, AND PREVENTION. PROBATION IS BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT COMBINING HELP, ASSISTANCE, GUIDANCE, AND SUPERVISION OUTSIDE THE INSTITUTIONAL SETTING WILL FACILITATE REINTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY ON THE PART OF OFFENDERS AND ULTIMATELY REDUCE INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME. IN CONTRAST TO THIS ASSUMPTION, RECIDIVISM BY PROBATIONERS HAS CHALLENGED THE EFFICACY OF PROBATION AND HAS RESULTED IN CONFLICTING VIEWS OF PROBATION. AS AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH, SHOCK PROBATION CONTENDS THAT OFFENDERS WILL BE MORE SUCCESSFUL ON PROBATION IF THEY EXPERIENCE SHORT-TERM INCARCERATION. THIS APPROACH STRESSES THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF POSSIBLE REINCARCERATION. PROBATION IS PRESUMED TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE FOR OFFENDERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY BUT HAVE NOT BECOME SOCIALIZED INTO THE INMATE SUBCULTURE. PROBATION SUBSIDY PROGRAMS POSTULATE THAT MORE OFFENDERS CAN BE RELEASED ON PROBATION AND THAT PROBATION CAN BE MORE SUCCESSFUL IF INTENSIVE SUPERVISION CASELOADS ARE ESTABLISHED. EMPLOYMENT AND GUIDANCE PROGRAMS ASSUME THAT EMPLOYMENT IS SOCIALLY INTEGRATIVE. RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTERS ARE A FORM OF HALFWAY HOUSES THAT PROVIDE STRUCTURE AND GUIDANCE TO OFFENDERS. THE GOAL IS TO MAXIMIZE COMMUNITY CONTACTS AND RESOURCES. BY PROVIDING RESTITUTION TO VICTIMS, OFFENDERS ARE SEEN AS GAINING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES. OUTREACH EFFORTS INVOLVE ESTABLISHING DECENTRALIZED PROBATION OFFICERS AND EMPLOYING INDIGENOUS PARAPROFESSIONALS WHO MAINTAIN GREATER CONTACT WITH CLIENTS THAN IS POSSIBLE UNDER REGULAR PROBATION OFFICE STRUCTURES. THE EMPHASIS IS ON THE NEED FOR CONTINUED SERVICE AND ASSISTANCE. SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS OF INNOVATIVE PROBATION PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS ARE NOTED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (DEP)