NCJ Number
60271
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 43 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 21-24
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A TEAM APPROACH TO PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATIONS OF SELECTED OFFENDERS IN WASHINGTON IS DESCRIBED, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF THE APPROACH.
Abstract
THE SEATTLE PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION UNIT, WHICH SERVES THE STATE'S SUPERIOR COURT, PROCESSES AN AVERAGE OF 130 CASES MONTHLY, OF WHICH 30 ARE ASSIGNED FOR TEAM EVALUATION. THE TEAM MODALITY IS USED FOR OFFENDERS WHO HAVE PLED GUILTY OR HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS, OR WHO HAVE SHOWN SIGNS OF SERIOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTURBANCE. THESE CASES ARE HANDLED BY AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM CONSISTING OF A PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE INVESTIGATION AND RESPONSIBLE FOR WRITING THE PRESENTENCE REPORT, AN OFFICER WITH EXPERTISE IN COMMUNITY RESOURCES, A PSYCHIATRIST OR PSYCHOLOGIST, AND A STAFFING CHAIRPERSON. THE TEAM APPROACH HAS SEVERAL ADVANTAGES: (1) IMPROVED ASSESSMENT OF OFFENDERS AS A RESULT OF THE TEAM MEMBERS VARIED INTERESTS AND AREAS OF EXPERTISE, (2) DEVELOPMENT OF MORE ALTERNATIVES FOR CONSIDERATION BY SENTENCERS, (3) REDUCTION IN PRESSURE ON INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS TO MAKE THE 'RIGHT' DECISION, (4) CREATION OF MORE ALTERNATIVES FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR OFFENDERS, (5) INCREASED JOB SATISFACTION AS A RESULT OF GREATER DIVERSITY OF ROLES FOR PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICERS, (6) REDUCTION IN ISOLATIONISM AMONG STAFF, (7) MORE TIMELY RECEIPT OF INFORMATION FROM PSYCHIATRISTS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND (8) INCLUSION OF SECRETARIAL STAFF AS TEAM MEMBERS. THE TEAM APPROACH HAS THE FOLLOWING DRAWBACKS: IT IS RELATIVELY TIME CONSUMING AND COSTLY, IT GENERATES CONSIDERABLE PAPERWORK, INTERPERSONAL PROBLEMS CAN DEVELOP AMONG TEAM MEMBERS, AND STRONG BIASES ON THE PART OF THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE INVESTIGATION CAN LEAD TO INFORMATION BEING WITHHELD FROM OTHER TEAM MEMBERS. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE TEAM EVALUATION PROCESS IS PROVIDED. (LKM)