NCJ Number
166691
Journal
Alternatives to Incarceration Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (May/June 1996) Pages: 32-34
Date Published
1996
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The 1994 National Assessment Program survey by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) of probation and parole agency directors found that caseload management led the list of workload problems faced by agency directors.
Abstract
A total of 368 directors of local probation and parole agencies (67 percent of the 546 surveyed) and 54 directors of State probation and parole agencies (87 percent of the 62 surveyed) responded. About 90 percent of agency directors indicated they needed more field officers to handle increased caseloads. The primary reason for increased caseloads was the rise in drug abuse cases. Agency directors were especially concerned about the adequacy of drug abuse treatment programs in their jurisdictions. About 87 percent reported having such programs, but 81 percent indicated a need for improvement. More agency directors expressed concern about boot camps than about other alternative sanctions. They had mixed opinions about work release centers, and electronic monitoring was widely available in their jurisdictions. Many agency directors said they felt responsible for providing mental health services to probationers and parolees. Agency directors recommended alternative sanctions and dealing with sex offenders as topics for further NIJ research and evaluation. Specifically, they wanted to know the extent to which boot camps, electronic monitoring, and day reporting were effective and how to effectively treat and monitor sex offenders. 1 table