PARAPROFESSIONALISM - A STUDY FOR THE WINNEPEG (CANADA) POLICE COMMISSION

• NCJ Number: 66911
• Author(s): J EPSTEIN; S VANDERHOEF
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 128 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Winnipeg
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

THE STUDY INVESTIGATES THE RISE OF PARAPROFESSIONALISM AND ITS ROLE IN MEDICINE, LAW, TEACHING, SOCIAL SERVICE, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Abstract

CONDITIONS WHICH ARE SEEN AS LEADING TO THE RISE OF PARAPROFESSIONALISM INCLUDE MANPOWER SHORTAGES, RISING COSTS, INCREASED SPECIALIZATION AND BUREAUCRATIZATION, ANND PROFESSIONAL-CLIENT CLASS BARRIERS. PARAPROFESSIONALISM IS ALSO SEEN AS A WEAPON IN THE WAR AGAINST POVERTY. ALTHOUGH THE RAPID RISE OF PARAPROFESSIONALISM IS SAID TO HAVE AMELIORATED THESE CONDITIONS, SOME PROLEMS REMAIN. THESE INCLUDE THE QUALITY OF PARAPROFESSIONAL JOBS, PERSONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL BARRIERS TO BRIDGING THE PROFESSIONAL/CLIENT GAP, CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE PROFESSIONAL AND THE PARAPROFESSIONAL, TASK UNCERTAINTIES, AND LEGAL AND TRAINING PROBLEMS. THE REPORT STUDIES THE RISE OF PARAPROFESSIONALISM IN THE SEPARATE AREAS OF MEDICINE, LAW TEACHING, SOCIAL SERVICE, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND REPORTS ON THE LITERATURE AND STUDIES WHICH EXAMINE THE PHENOMENON IN EACH FIELD. MUCH OF THE REPORT IS DEVOTED TO THE STUDY OF PARAPROFESSIONALS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, ESPECIALLY ON THE CONTROVERSIAL USE OF PARAPROFESSIONALS SUCH AS THE COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER (CSO) WHO PERFORM DUTIES CLOSELY RESEMBLING THOSE OF OFFICERS IN THE FIELD.ANALYSES ARE MADE OF THE LEAA TASK FORCE REPORT ON POLICE, THE RICHMOND PROGRAM STUDIES, AND THE URBAN INSTITUTE STUDY. THE DETAILED FINDINGS OF A LATER URBAN INSTITUTE STUDY (1977) NOTED POLICE HOSTILITY TOWARD THE CONCEPT OF THE PARAPROFESSIONAL, THE COOST BENEFITS FROM A PARAPROFESSIONAL PROGRAM, AND THE LACK OF CAREER ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE POLCIE PARAPROFESSIONAL. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT ALTHOUGH MANY PROBLEMS DO STILL EXIST, PARAPROFESSIONALISM IS INCREASING, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE COST BENEFITS. TO DATE, MUCH OF THE RELEVANT LITERATURE IS PLAGUED WITH DESIGN INADEQUACIES, AND IMPROVED STUDIES ARE NEEDED TO ASSESS EFFICIENCY AND COSTS. A TOTAL OF 87 FOOTNOTES, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND AN APPENDIX ARE INCLUDED.