NCJ Number
133409
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 55 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1991) Pages: 17-25
Date Published
1991
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Forty-three probationers were tested and interviewed to asses the social-psychological effect of probation in areas of emotions, family, peer, work relations, self-concept, and stigma.
Abstract
The participants were administered an open-ended questionnaire, a scalogram, and the Self-Attitude Inventory (SAI). The results indicated that the probationers received a great deal of help and support from family, friends, and even from some employers regardless of the severity of the crime. The respondents also indicated that they had felt the effects of probation to some extent; a plurality had something positive to say about court probation. Almost all probationers wanted additional help from their probation officer for some concrete problems. Results demonstrated that the specific probation officer assigned to a case is important and that the majority of probationers did not perceive themselves as criminals. The self-concept of the respondents as measured by the SAI was about the same as the self-concept of a group of college students. Most importantly the results illustrated that probation does not completely overwhelm the probationers lives. Many of the negative consequences of probation result from individual perceptions and psychological make up. 2 notes and 32 references