NCJ Number
174626
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 61 Issue: 4 Dated: December 1997 Pages: 11-17
Date Published
1997
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the initial interview as a pivotal point for officers who supervise substance-abusing offenders.
Abstract
Encouraging a fair but firm approach in holding offenders accountable for their decision to continue using drugs, the article describes the importance of officers establishing credibility with offenders at their first encounter. It also discusses factors that affect credibility and the advantages and disadvantages of various probation officer styles. The initial interview sets the groundwork for the supervision approach that follows and how the interview is conducted determines, in large part, the degree of limit-testing that will occur. The disease model or social work approach is largely ineffective with substance-abusing offenders. If officers are to be effective in helping addicts help themselves while fulfilling their obligation to protect the community, officers must hold offenders responsible for their decision to use and abuse illegal drugs and try to coerce them into entering a therapeutic community. References