NCJ Number
101312
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 30 Issue: 1 Dated: (1986) Pages: 59-68
Date Published
1986
Length
10 pages
Annotation
A 1982 survey of 62 juvenile probation officers in a New England State found correlations between probation officer characteristics and the type of probationer personal histories they prepared.
Abstract
A 138-item questionnaire obtained data on officers' demographic characteristics, work patterns, and officer philosophies. The contents of 4 personal histories in the active case files of each officer were examined, yielding a list of 283 distinct variables. The 10 most frequently used variables pertained to basic identifying data. The most frequently used variable pertaining to illegal behavior was ranked 39th in frequency. The most frequent item pertaining to probationer psychological information was ranked 78th. Despite detailed administrative rules for personal history preparation and the mandated use of a preprinted form for data collection, officers personally selected the information they included in their reports. Officers who included fewer items in personal histories tended to be dissatisfied with the justice system and specific job factors: office environments, large caseloads, and increasing numbers of personal histories. They tended to believe in punishing juvenile defendants and protecting the community. Officers with more data in personal-history reports had no strong dislikes for the justice system and tended to believe that psychological problems and family dysfunctioning cause delinquency. Implications are drawn from these findings. 22 references.