Needs and Concerns of Probationers - A Thematic Analysis of Interviews

• NCJ Number: 81221
• Author(s): J J Gibbs
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 150 pages
• Grant Number(s): 78-NI-AX-0152
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ); US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Rutgers University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Findings and explanations are presented from interviews with probationers structured to elicit their perceptions of probation and explore their concerns.

Abstract

Interviews were conducted with 57 probationers in two New Jersey counties. Each respondent was asked to describe his probation experience and to respond to an orally administered Self-Anchoring Striving Scale, a measure of satisfaction. The themes that emerged from a content analysis of the interviews were flexibility, control, assistance, support, and autonomy. The report defines and illustrates these themes with interview excerpts. Flexibility emerged as a need for adaptability, a concern about pliable regulations and requirements, and a desire for controller discretion when there is a perceived necessity for lenient or merciful adjustments. Assistance is the need for aid in dealing with concrete problems, a desire for help in planning or achieving tangible goals, and a concern about help in solving practical problems or completing necessary tasks. The control dimension involves a need for external regulation to avoid troublesome situtations, a desire to delegate responsibility for one's behavior to the controller, and a concern for external restraint when necessary. The support dimension reflects a need for understanding, empathy, and warmth; a desire for emotional support and help with personal problems; and a concern about personal relationships and communications. Autonomy is a need to be in control of one's life, a desire for minimum restraint and maximum freedom, and a concern about being treated with deference and respect when one's perceived prerogatives are involved. Support was the most popular theme, followed by autonomy and flexibility. Control and assistance ranked lowest among the themes. The report contains analyses of themes in conjunction with satisfaction measures, personal characteristics, and treatment variables. Tabular data are provided. For other reports in this series, see NCJ 81216-20 and NCJ 81222-24.