1. Chapter 5 Probation Officer Issues

2. Introduction The tasks most prescribed to probation officers in all 50 states are: Supervision -46 Investigate cases -32 Keep records -27 Surveillance-26 Develop/discuss probation conditions -24 Arrest-24

3. Organization of Probation Services State versus Local Administration The most common structure for adult and juvenile probation agencies is a state agency administered by the executive branch Good arguments exist for the administration of probation departments at various levels of government

4. Organization of Probation Services, cont. Arguments for state-level/executive branch administration: Program budgeting is better coordinated Uniform policies and procedures More funding for training and services More efficient and coordinated continuum of services Administrators are better trained than judges If officers perceive their bosses as local judges, the needs of the caseload or community may suffer

5. Organization of Probation Services, cont. Arguments favoring local level or judicial branch administration: More familiarity with local community values and resources The judicial branch is more attuned to human services than the executive branch The judicial branch and/or local levels have a less rigid chain of command Judicial branch control provides more autonomy for probation

6. Organization of Probation Services, cont. Community Corrections Acts Statewide laws that provide grants to local government to develop and deliver community corrections programs Primary purpose is to provide alternatives to incarceration Local governments benefit from state funding

7. A Typology of Probation Officer Work Styles Klockars (1972) defined four basic work styles: 1. The Law Enforcer stresses legal authority 2. Time Servers have little aspiration to improve 3. Therapeutic Agents administer treatment 4. Synthetic officers balance treatment and law enforcement

8. Selection and Appointment of Probation Officers Appointment System A judge or selection committee appoints chief probation officer, who in turn selects assistants Merit System Applicants who meet minimum requirements are required to pass a competitive exam Those who score above a specified minimum are placed on a ranked list and candidates are selected according to their rank

9. Selection and Appointment of Probation Officers, cont. Combined System - Applicants are screened through a merit exam and candidates are selected similar to the appointment system

10. Officer Qualifications, Training and Salary Officers should: Possess good oral and written skills Know how to treat people fairly, consistently, firmly and with respect Be knowledgeable about different cultures Be good time managers These skills are gained by education, experience and training.

11. Officer Qualifications, Training and Salary, cont. Education and Experience Most adult probation and parole officers must have a minimum baccalaureate degree At least 86% of juvenile probation offices require a degree Preferences are for degrees in criminal justice, criminology and sociology Some jurisdictions require psychological screening, physical fitness tests and drug screening

12. Officer Qualifications, Training and Salary, cont. Adult Preservice Training Combined probation and parole offices require an average of 208 hours of preservice training Separate offices require less hours of training Training topics include interviewing skills and HIV/AIDS education Those states where officers carry firearms require completion of Peace Officer State Training (POST)

13. Officer Qualifications, Training and Salary, cont. Juvenile Preservice and Orientation Training The American Correctional Association recommends 40 hours of preservice training The American Bar Association recommends 80 hours, with an additional 48 hours during the first six months The 20 states that certify juvenile officers average just over 100 hours of preservice training

14. Officer Qualifications, Training and Salary, cont. In-Service Training All states and the federal system require a certain number of hours to keep current, with 40 hours the most common requirement Officer Salary The median salary in May 2004 was $39,600, ranging from $26, 310 to $66,600 The average salary for parole administrators was $161,435 and for probation administrators $101,109

15. Firearms Policies In April 2006, 35 adult probation jurisdictions and 40 adult parole jurisdictions carried firearms (APPA) In the juvenile system, 3 states mandate firearms for officers, 2 give the option and 7 narrow firearms to only certain counties In the federal system, 85 of 94 judicial districts allow officers to carry weapons

16. Probation Officer Job Stress Sources of stress: Excessive paperwork Lack of time to accomplish the job Role ambiguity Role conflict Lack of participation in decision-making Court leniency Failure to recognize accomplishments

17. Probation Officer Job Stress Decreasing stress: Types of Immunity Negligence is the failure to do that which a reasonably prudent person would have done in a similar circumstance Probation and parole officers are government employees and have different types of protection depending on the function they perform

18. Probation Officer Job Stress, cont. Absolute Immunity protects government officials from any legal action unless they engage in discretion that is intentionally and maliciously wrong Qualified Immunity is limited to those in the executive branch or when workers perform administrative functions

19. Private Probation At least 18 states use private agencies for some form of supervision Critics say that providing effective correctional services is at odds with making a profit Georgia, Utah, Colorado and Tennessee provide good examples of standardized requirements for supervision by private agencies