NCJ Number
60277
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 43 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 60-66
Date Published
1979
Length
7 pages
Annotation
INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES THAT CAN HELP PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICERS UNDERSTAND THEIR CLIENTS AND BUILT BETTER OFFICER-CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
CONDITIONS THAT MAKE THE FORMATION OF POSITIVE OFFICER-CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS--THE FACT THAT THE RELATIONSHIPS ARE MANDATORY, AND CLIENTS' DEEP-SEATED BELIEF THAT NO ONE UNDERSTANDS THEM--ARE IDENTIFIED. THE FOLLOWING BASIC PRINCIPLES TO BE REMEMBERED BY PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICERS IN CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS ARE DISCUSSED: (1) SEEING THINGS FROM CLIENTS' POINT OF VIEW, (2) REALIZING THAT CLIENTS' REACTIONS CANNOT ALWAYS BE UNDERSTOOD FROM A COMMON-SENSE PERSPECTIVE, (3) UNDERSTANDING THAT BOTH CLIENTS AND OFFICERS' RESPONSES TO EACH OTHER MAY REFLECT PAST EXPERIENCES WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND SITUATIONS, (4) MAINTAINING LEADERSHIP IN THE COUNSELING SITUATION, (5) HAVING FAITH IN THE BASIC GOODNESS OF HUMAN BEINGS AND IN THEIR POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND (6) CONVEYING RESPECT FOR CLIENTS AS FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS. INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES THAT CAN HELP OFFICERS PUT THESE PRINCIPLES INTO ACTION--CONVEYING INTEREST, MAINTAINING A NONJUDGMENTAL ATTITUDE, COMMUNICATING UNDERSTANDING AND EMPATHY, LETTING THE CLIENT DO THE TALKING--ARE EXPLAINED IN DETAIL AND ILLUSTRATED IN EXAMPLES. THE IMPORTANCE OF ESTABLISHING WITH CLIENTS BOTH THE PURPOSES OF THE INTERVIEW AND THE LIMITED CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE OFFICER-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP IS BROUGHT OUT. FUTURE ARTICLES IN THIS SERIES WILL DEAL WITH THE ART OF LISTENING AND HOW TO CONDUCT INTERVIEWS. (LKM)