NCJ Number
227011
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 48 Issue: 3 Dated: April 2009 Pages: 210-227
Date Published
April 2009
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study investigated probationers’ views of their officers by exploring possible correlates.
Abstract
Results revealed that the probationers surveyed expressed positive feelings regarding their probation officers in terms of fairness, clarity, competency, and satisfaction. These dimensions all yielded mean responses of agreement above 85 percent. Findings also showed responses to questions relating to helpfulness yielded lower levels of agreement from probationers. Averaging across the three survey items, 70 percent of respondents agreed their officer was helpful. Overall, probationers had a very positive view of their probation officer. The few negative views expressed were not limited to a singular, small group of probationers. The relatively high reliability among items within each index shows there was a tendency for respondents to express consistent views across items, either positive or negative. The negative responses were not the result of only a few disgruntled probationers, but dispersed throughout the survey. The largely positive views also were not isolated but represented broad feelings across the entire sample, suggesting that offenders still viewed probation as punitive. Tables, notes, and references