NCJ Number
168866
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 60 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1996) Pages: 21-29
Date Published
1996
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This article seeks to assist probation and pretrial services officers prepare for leadership roles in the 21st century.
Abstract
For probation and pretrial chiefs, perhaps the most profound change has been the decentralization and delegation to the courts of any administrative decision-making responsibilities previously carried out by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. Court managers have assumed increased latitude and responsibility in managing their budgets, space and facilities and human resources. The new roles required of chiefs include: visionary, strategic planner, resource manager, continuous learner, system and profession advocate, and negotiator/mediator. Chief probation and pretrial services officers can prepare for their new roles via a number of approaches: (1) Organized retrospection: examine and articulate personal principles and values and live proactively by them; (2) Step outside familiar paradigms: let go of old workplace values, beliefs and behaviors: (3) Elicit feedback; (4) Alternate between participating and observing; and (5) Ask some new questions, e.g.: What does a successful probation or pretrial services office look like when the system is constantly changing? What is my leadership strategy? How willing am I to give up control, to consider the ideas of others and allow my staff to try new approaches? Figure, bibliography, appendix