NCJ Number
66305
Date Published
1980
Length
22 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT REVIEWS THE PROGRESS THAT HAS OCCURRED FROM 1970-1980 IN THE ILLINOIS ADULT AND JUVENILE PROBATION SYSTEM.
Abstract
A DECADE AGO, THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT IN ILLINOIS WAS STAFFED BY POORLY EDUCATED AND UNTRAINED PATRONAGE WORKERS INCAPABLE OF PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY PROBATION SERVICES. JUDGES COULD NOT FULLY RELY ON PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION REPORTS, AND RECORDS WERE INADEQUATE OR NONEXISTING. MANY JURISDICTIONS HAD ONLY PART-TIME OFFICERS, IF ANY, AND CASELOADS WERE HIGH. HOWEVER, IN 1970-1980, PROBATION STAFFS HAVE ALMOST TRIPLED; SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED IN MANY COUNTIES WHERE NONE EXISTED BEFORE; ALMOST ALL COUNTIES HAVE FULL-TIME STAFF; A YOUNGER, BETTER EDUCATED INDIVIDUAL IS ENTERING THE PROFESSION; TRAINING PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN INITIATED AND INSTITUTIONALIZED; RECORDKEEPING HAS IMPROVED; SPECIALIZED SERVICES ARE BEING OFFERED IN SOME AREAS; AND A STATE-SUPPORTED SALARY SUBSIDY EXTENDED TO INCLUDE ADULT PROBATION OFFICERS. MUCH OF THIS IMPROVEMENT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE OVER $6 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS THAT WERE INVESTED IN UPGRADING ILLINOIS PROBATION. MAJOR PROBLEMS STILL REMAIN, PARTICULARLY IN THE STATEWIDE ADULT PROBATION SYSTEM. THE EXTRAORDINARY CASELOAD SIZE PROHIBITS THE DELIVERY OF ALL BUT PERFUNCTORY PROBATION SERVICES. OFFENDERS ARE ALSO REPEATEDLY PLACED ON PROBATION DESPITE ADDITIONAL KNOWN OFFENSES. THE REPORT RECOMMENDS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROBATION MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM WITH NEEDED OFFENDER AND PERFORMANCE DATA TO FACILITATE MANAGEMENT DECISIONS. ADULT CASELOADS MUST BE REDUCED, AND PROBATION DECISIONMAKING SHOULD BE EXAMINED ESPECIALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE PLACEMENT OF FELONS ON PROBATION WITHOUT A PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION. TRAINING SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR ALL PROBATION PERSONNEL IN THE USE OF CLASSIFICATION AND PREDICTION TECHNIQUES, AND VOLUNTEERS IN PROBATION SHOULD BE RECRUITED. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (MJW)