PROFESSIONALIZATION AND THE MEDICALIZATION OF DEVIANCE THE CASE OF PROBATION OFFICERS

• NCJ Number: 45024
• Journal: OFFENDER REHABILITATION Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: (FALL 1977) Pages: 77-85
• Author(s): H P CHALFANT
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: Haworth Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE TENDENCY FOR PROBATION WORK TO BE DEFINED IN MEDICAL TERMS IS EXAMINED IN A REVIEW OF ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN A MAJOR JOURNAL IN THE FIELD.

Abstract

INCREASINGLY MORE TYPES OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR ARE BEING REDEFINED AS MEDICAL PROBLEMS. THIS TENDENCY, KNOWN AS 'MEDICALIZATION OF DEVIANCE,' HAS BEEN EXPLORED IN A NUMBER OF CONDITIONS, SUCH AS ALCOHOLISM, DRUG ABUSE, KINESTHESIA, AND CHILD ABUSE. SIMULTANEOUSLY, AGENCIES TRADITIONALLY ASSOCIATED WITH LEGAL-PENAL FORMS OF CONTROL ARE REDEFINING THEIR WORK TO CONFORM TO THE MEDICALIZED VIEW. A REVIEW OF ONE-HALF OF THE ISSUES OF THE JOURNAL 'FEDERAL PROBATION' FOR THE PERIODS 1951-55, 1971-75, AND 1966-76 REVEALS AN EMPHASIS ON MEDICALIZATION IN THE MOST RECENT PERIOD AS WELL AS AN INCREASE OF SUCH EMPHASIS OVER THE PERIOD STUDIED. THERE APPEARS TO BE A DEFINITE TREND IN THE FIELD OF PROBATION TOWARD STRESSING THE MEDICALIZED VIEW OF THE OFFENDER AND VIEWING THE PROBATION WORKER IN A PROFESSIONAL POSTURE COMPARABLE TO THAT OF THE WORKER IN THE HEALTH-THERAPEUTIC SYSTEM. IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS ARE SUGGESTED. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)