Using the Automated Social History - Agency Applications and Current Issues (From Microcomputers in Criminal Justice, P 59-86, 1987, Joseph Waldron, et al - See NCJ-104468)

• NCJ Number: 104472
• Author(s): J Waldron
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 28 pages
• Sale Source: Anderson Publishing Co
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The Automated Social History (ASH) is a self-report instrument that can aid the preparation of presentence investigation reports.

Abstract

Preparing a presentence report requires gathering several types of information from a variety of sources. Probation officers are often overworked and seldom have time to conduct an adequate presentence investigation. ASH collects the information directly from the offender, who enters a response chosen from a list. Offenders are more likely to report deviance in the automated instrument, but the responses may contain inaccuracies, omissions, and exaggerations. Automated procedures lack the details of clinical interviews, but they eliminate the subjective biases of interviewers. ASH provides historical data that would take about 2.5 hours to gather in a personal interview. It gathers only routine data and excludes information on the current offense. It provides a screening for the probation officer prior to a face-to-face interview. During the interview, the probation officer can use the computerized report to serve as a reminder. ASH presents the information in a structured fashion that permits skimming. It is probably more secure than standard paper file systems. Implementation guidelines, tables, and figures.