NCJ Number
111887
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 50 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1986) Pages: 67-71
Date Published
1986
Length
5 pages
Annotation
To identify the tasks comprising the probation function and the associated skills needed, a self-administered task and skill index was developed and administered to 112 Illinois adult probation officers from rural and urban departments.
Abstract
Significant differences were found between groups on 16 or 25 supervision tasks, with rural officers performing all but 1 task more frequently than urban officers, probably as a result of greater job specialization in larger departments. Tasks of officers during presentence investigations were similar for the 2 frequently, again suggesting greater role specialization in urban departments. While rural and urban officers showed significant differences in the frequency with which they performed certain roles, few significant differences were found in the knowledge, skills, and abilities they saw as critical to the probation officer function. Results indicate that rural officers perform a greater number of roles and require a greater variety of skills, knowledge, and training than do urban officers, particularly in the areas of supervision and presentence investigation. Training in rural areas should reflect the more generalized nature of the probation officer's role. 17 references.