Role Of Probation Officers Research Articles

‘I would work with a client, but I have to fill out papers’: understanding professional roles and role conflicts experienced by Lithuanian probation officers

This article aims to explore the roles that Lithuanian probation officers associate with their profession, the differences between their ideal and actual roles, and the conflicts they encounter in their daily work with probation clients. The research was conducted using both quantitative and qualitative methods, including a survey of 129 individuals and interviews with 20 probation officers. Results from the survey showed that Lithuanian probation officers tend to associate their profession with control and balancing roles. Interviews revealed that probation officers associate their ideal roles with control or resocialisation functions but accept these contrasting roles as a professional necessity. The study also found that probation officers face a high workload related to paperwork, which suggests an actual role as a bureaucrat. Nevertheless, this role is not desired by the officers and is rejected. Additionally, the study revealed that probation officers experience internal conflicts related to the different expectations of their clients and the management of the probation service. This article argues that the organisation's attitude and requirements influence the gap between the ideal and actual roles of probation officers and orient their actual roles towards bureaucratic and control functions.

The Urgency of Voluntary Probation and Parole Officer in Criminal Justice System in Indonesia

The role of Probation Officers in the criminal justice system in Indonesia has become increasingly significant following the enactment of Law No. 11/2012 concerning the Juvenile Justice System Law, particularly in terms of guidance and supervision closely correlated with the success rate in the reintegration process of former inmates. However, based on the Prison Database System, the number of PKs in Indonesia still needs to be ideal. The ideal ratio of Probation Officers to clients handled is 9,975, but as of November 2023, only 2,851 Probation Officers positions have been filled, resulting in a deficit of 7,124 officers. This research aims to understand the urgency of appointing voluntary probation officers, analyze the practices of voluntary probation officers in other countries, and project the mechanisms for criteria, appointment procedures, task implementation, and working relationships of voluntary probation officers. The method employed is a literature review involving collecting, evaluating, and synthesizing existing knowledge from various written sources to support or provide a basis for the ongoing research. This research indicates that forming voluntary Probation Officers is an alternative solution to meet staffing needs. Additionally, the establishment of the position of voluntary Probation Officer aligns with Government Regulation No. 31/1999 regarding the Development and Guidance of Inmates, which outlines the procedures and requirements for the establishment of voluntary Probation Officers. In practice, voluntary Probation Officers, also known globally as Volunteer Probation Officers (VPO), in Japan have been deemed successful due to their financial efficiency and service effectiveness. In conclusion, establishing voluntary Probation Officers is an alternative solution that the Ministry of Law and Human Rights should promptly realize. Moreover, the successful practices of voluntary probation officers in various countries, including Japan, can guide the design of policies that encompass criteria, procedures, rights, and responsibilities.

A Qualitative Exploration of Shifts to Community Supervision Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, community supervision agencies were forced to incorporate drastic changes to traditional supervision techniques, which shifted the daily roles of probation officers (POs). Research on the pandemic identifies rapid adaptations to supervision strategies and increased demands on POs during the pandemic. Using qualitative data from interviews with POs across the United States, the goal of this study was to examine the experiences of POs working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results suggest POs had to alter their supervision approach, both physically and ideologically. POs discussed shifts to both remote supervision in place of in-person work coupled with a need to use an “agent of change” approach given limited access to formal, punitive responses to noncompliance, with a priority on the highest risk/need clients. Findings suggest several implications for practice, including factors to consider regarding community correction reform efforts in a post-pandemic world.

보호관찰 청소년 재범방지를 위한 증거기반원칙과 지역사회 역할에 관한 소고

The current study attempts to provide the roles of communities in terms of reducing recidivism of juvenile probationers and parolees in South Korea. In order to lay the groundwork, the current study also introduces the evidence-based principles and policies regarding juvenile delinquency. Traditionally, the efforts to reduce recidivism among juvenile probationers and parolees have suffered from two limitations. The first one concerns the fact that those policies have not been premised on evidence based principles and programs. Therefore the extant polices have been experimenting with new ideas or have been accepting the policies that have been proven ineffective in other countries. The second limitation is related to the fact that most of those efforts have largely focused on the roles of probation officers or Ministry of Justice. As a result, a serious discussion has gone missing on the basic issue such as what kinds of community resources should be reserved for whom in the community and how?
 Against this backdrop, the current study provides reviews of the extant literature of what works on juvenile delinquents. In doing so, much attention is given to the theory of Risk, Needs, Responsivity Principles (RNR principles). As a main argument advanced for the current paper, the roles of community will be offered in order to reduce recidivism of juvenile probationer and parolees. More specifically, the attention will largely focus on the issues such as the roles of probation officers, voluntary probation officers, school systems, community mental health agencies, and community shelters along with local governments. Finally, this study concludes with some useful tips and recommendations for future research and practices.

보호관찰관의 지지와 준수사항 위반과의 관계

This study aims at investigating the relationships between supportive attitude of probation officers toward criminals and the revocation of probation. In particular, the current study focuses on identifying crucial factors that are associated with the violations of probation conditions under electronic monitoring. It is significant to find out the key factors that might reduce the numbers of violation of EM conditions in order to prevent recidivism in South Korea. In 2022, Korean Ministry of Justice announced the additional implementation of electronic anklets device program on offenders who committed stalking with a partial revision of the Electronic Monitoring Device Attachment Act. There have been wide controversial criticism toward the expansion of the Electronic Monitoring Device Attachment Act from September 2008, which the law was uninitiated. In this regard, this study attempts to examine what factors can increase the effectiveness of the EM with the consideration of supportive attitude of officers in terms of reduction of violations of probation conditions under electronic monitoring. In addition, the present study highlights the association between the role of probation officers and the level of probation revocation. “Survey of the Operational Realities of Electronic Monitoring on Sex-offenders in 2013” was used as analyses data sets. Besides, this study relied on Sherman's Defiance theory(1993) to examine the relationships between the attitude of probation officers and violation of probationers under EM. After reviewing previous studies, related factors were analyzed by assigning key dependent variables such as violation of probation conditions and violation of electronic monitoring requirement. In addition, this study utilized independent variable as supportive attitude of probation officers. Furthermore, as control variables, age, educational background, criminal experience, and period of attachment to electronic devices were used in the model. Logistic regression analysis result demonstrated that EM attachment period and previous criminal history of offenders had a significant impact on increasing the violation of probation conditions. Regression analysis showed that probationer-officer relationship was not statistically significant factors that might decrease the number of violation of condition when other variables were controlled. These results showed that the compassionate attitude of the probation officer was not a significant factor for obtaining better compliance of offenders under EM. Further policy implications will be discussed.

Restorative Justice in Child Rape Perpetrators: A Case Study on Perpetrators With Intellectual Disability

The main role of probation officers is implementing restorative justice for the juvenile. However, a rape perpetrator with intellectual disability will encourage a different approach. Therefore, this study aims to explain how the application of restorative justice by probation officers on youth offenders with intellectual disabilities. The method used in this study is an empirical normative method. Primary legal materials were obtained through interviews with probation officers tasked with assisting in the investigation, prosecution, and examination in court, to assist in implementing decisions. Another source of legal materials was also obtained through the document of community research. Finally, secondary legal materials were obtained from various sources such as legislation, library books, and scientific journals. The results show three primary points. First, probation officers have realized restorative justice through their role in community research and mentoring. Second, probation officers provide recommendations for the rehabilitation of offenders. Third, probation officers reinforce other law enforcers such as police, prosecutors, and judges to conduct psychological diagnoses to ensure the child’s condition. However, this study also finds that not all law enforcers can understand and handle children with intellectual disabilities.

A Police Officer or a Social Worker? Research on the Professional Roles of Probation Officers

The article discusses the results of the quantitative survey of Lithuanian probation officers. We attempt to answer the question of what roles officers choose in their professional service. Taking into account the specificity of probation officers’ duties and internationally accepted classifications, we use, in the article, the categories of the professional roles of policeman (or controlling agent) and social worker (or resocialising agent) to analyse Lithuanian probation officers. The conducted research demonstrates that the Lithuanian probation officers associate their professional service with the control-oriented and balanced roles. We explain the choice of the control-oriented role as influenced by such factors as strict punitive policies and punitive culture and the development of the Lithuanian probation system from the institution of police and control towards the institution of resocialisation and social support. The choice of the balanced role could be associated with the contrasting functions of control and resocialisation that the probation officers attempt to combine in their everyday professional activities.

Agency-level Perceptions of Monetary Sanctions: Current Landscape and Impediments to Reform

Due to increasing recognition of the collateral consequences associated with monetary sanctions, fees have begun to occupy a prominent place in critical debates. This is especially true for community corrections, where multiple fees are assessed and collected. However, the agency-level perspective has largely been omitted, especially regarding how the current landscape may facilitate—or impede—reform. Using self-report data from a state-wide sample of Chiefs of Probation and Parole, this paper provides a new perspective on the complex interplay between the policy and practices surrounding monetary sanctions. Responses suggest that the practices and philosophies surrounding the collection of fees vary significantly between jurisdictions. This obligation is also reported to challenge the traditional roles of probation officers by limiting discretion and complicating the existing tensions between their treatment and control-oriented responsibilities. Some respondents indicated meaningful reliance on fee revenue for operational and treatment budgets. Implications for policy reform, especially considering the variation observed in this single state, are discussed.

The penal narratives of community sentence and the role of probation: The case of the Wrocław model of community service

This article draws on Robinson, McNeill and Maruna’s argument about the adaptability of community sanctions and measures, observed through four distinctive penal narratives, in order to shed light on the regional development of community service in Wrocław, Poland. While the managerial adaptation of community sanctions is underpinned by an inter-agency cooperation to fulfil the goals of the system, the contemporary rehabilitation iteration has become a toolkit of measures predominantly phrased around risk management, the reparative discourse seeks various means to repair harm and the punitive orientation represents the turn to desert-based and populist sentencing frameworks. In this article, the first three are reflected upon along with the emerging, restorative adaptation of community sanctions. The last one is added to expand on the findings of this author’s previous research, which suggests the viability of the restorative orientation for community service in Poland. A brief discussion of how punishment, probation and restorative justice can be reconciled is followed by the introduction of Polish probation and the role of probation officers in delivering community service in Poland. Although the penal narratives are visible in the Wrocław model to different degrees and in various combinations, more research is required to evaluate the viability of a progressive orientation to punishment during a gradual optimisation of community orders.

Peran Pembimbing Kemasyarakatan dalam rangka Mendukung Revitalisasi Penyelenggaraan Pemasyarakatan

This research examined the revitalization of correctional administration, especially related to the role of probation officers. They have a strategic role in correction revitalization that is the pre-adjudication, adjudication and post-adjudication phases. The core business is community research, guidance, legal assistance, supervision, and a team of correctional observers. This research used a mix-method approach, namely, quantitative and qualitative. It consisted of primary data obtained from respondents with a google form questionnaire, a depth-interview with informants, and secondary data collected by books, journals, regulations, theory, and other literature. The results showed that the role had not optimized yet, It was influenced by some factors that were, a lack of the capacity, competence, and skills of the probation officers then, the ratio of the number of clients to the probation officers, budget support, facilities, and infrastructure to carry out the goals. Then the obstacles, namely the difference in perceptions of regulations/rules between correctional technical implementing units related to the duties and functions of probation officers, their skills, in terms of capacity, quantity, and quality to support the revitalization of correctional and lacking budget were factors that affected the optimization of their duties and functions.

Victim’s interests and the role of probation officers in victim-offender mediation: Theoretical analysis and the Greek juvenile justice system

The present paper focuses on the role of probation officers for juvenile offenders in victim-offender mediation and on the main challenges for the protection of victims? interests. The general nature of probation officers? duties has been characterized as ?offender-focused?. However, according to the Directive 2012/29/EU, restorative justice includes processes through which the victim and the offender can participate actively in resolving the problems that occur from the offence, with the help of an impartial third party. The Greek juvenile justice system will be examined as a case study. The analysis reveals that the Greek legislator has adopted a ?quasi-restorative? practice that promotes juvenile offenders? rehabilitation and socialization. This fact raises concerns regarding the ?legitimation? of mediation process from a victimological perspective. Special emphasis is given to the significance of the informed consent that should be provided by the victims in order to participate in the process based on the procedural justice theory.

Probation officer suspended in executive proceedings

As a result of legislative changes, from January 1, 2010, cases in which probation teams of the judicial service executing decisions in criminal matters are referred to cases in which enforcement proceedings have been suspended pursuant to art. 15 § 2 of the Executive Penal Code. Despite the lapse of 10 years from the introduction of the obligation for probation officers to perform control activities in such cases, doubts are still raised as to the role and tasks of probation officers resting in the course of executive proceedings that have been suspended and have not been performed for some time. In the course of such suspended proceedings, does the professional probation officers still retain all the qualities associated with his status as an executive authority? The purpose of this study is to present the role of a probation officer as a authority of executive proceedings in a situation where, despite legality and enforceability, the judgment will not be enforced and will not be pending for reasons of a temporary nature and to present de lege ferenda conclusions regarding the regulation of the rights of probation officers in the discussed areas.

Possibility of joint impact of probation officers from the criminal and family divisions performing tasks in one family

The article highlights the possibility of joint impacts of probation officers of both divisions (family and criminal) performing tasks in one family. The above issue was analyzed in three aspects: historical, organizational, legal and methodological. Conclusions that arise after analysis lead to believe that the guardianship system has developed in several directions, and the role of probation officers is currently differently understood by judges, probation officers and the society. Probation officers perform a very wide range of tasks related to the implementation of court decisions. Their preparation for the profession has been standardized. Graduates of pedagogical, psychological, sociological and legal faculties may become probation officers. Year-long apprenticeship is aimed at deepening the knowledge of the future probation officer in the field of work methodology. The author believes that the issue of cooperation of probation officers performing tasks in one family should become the subject of in-depth analysis, both legal and methodological. Well-prepared and implemented cooperation between probation officers of both divisions can bring a measurable increase in effectiveness of rehabilitation-educational actions carried out in an open environment.

Probation Officer Role Emphases and Use of Risk Assessment Information before and after Training

This research examined how probation officers use risk information about offenders, and how its use is affected by what aspects of their role they emphasize. Officers (N = 152) were invited to complete surveys before and after a risk assessment tool training (46.0-65.8% participation rate). Surveys assessed estimates of reoffense and officers' likely supervision approach given a probationer's risk level. Officers tended to overestimate the likelihood of medium- and high-risk offenders to reoffend. As risk level rose, officers tended to increase the number of meetings and referrals. Officers' role emphases were related to how they perceived low-risk offenders' likelihood to reoffend, but not for offenders at other risk levels. There was relative consistency in officers' role emphases, supervision decisions, and responses to violations, so that differences in practice did not appear to be systematic. Most officers' risk perceptions were more realistic after training. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Economic Sanctions in Criminal Justice

In this article, the authors present a framework for considering five different economic sanctions: restitution, costs, fees, fines, and forfeiture. The intended purposes of these sanctions are described, and the research on the imposition of these sanctions is reviewed, particularly the extent to which offenders are likely to pay these court-ordered amounts and the effect of economic sanctions on recidivism. Four specific problems with economic sanctions are presented: setting the amounts of the sanctions, ensuring payment, setting priorities among different sanctions, and defining the roles of probation officers in the monitoring of payment.

Functional versus critical literacy in the rehabilitation of offenders: a survey of probation services in England and Wales

In this paper we examine contrasting concepts of literacy in relation to the rehabilitation of offenders under supervision by the probation service. One approach, derived from a linguistic or code-based perspective, delimits literacy to acquiring minimal routines and procedures to function in mainstream society in order to avoid further failure. Critical literacy, in contrast, derived from a socio-cultural perspective, highlights the importance of acquiring literacy as an active, context-grounded process, through which individuals take personal control for accessing wider social, educational and economic opportunities. Arguably, literacy is a fundamental component of any rehabilitation process for offenders and there is evidence that involvement in literacy programmes reduces recidivism, enables offenders to achieve better family relationships, higher levels of self-control and self-esteem, whilst also promoting a sense of social responsibility and inclusion in society. Data are reported from a survey conducted in England and Wales as part of a Home Office commissioned research project which surveyed literacy provision in 53 out of the 55 probation services, with 13 of these subjectedto more intensiveresearch through site visits.The paper focuses on how probation services perceive the literacy needs of offenders under supervision, and how this informs processes of assessment and intervention, including priorities given to literacy work. The objective of the research was to recommend practices, procedures or partnerships which allow for an effective response to offenders' literacy needs within the service's statutory role. The findings indicate that the provision of literacy assessment and support is unsystematic, with very wide variations in practice nationally, both between and within services. Conflicting perspectives are highlighted on how literacy should be defined and taught, which in turn reflect underlying ambivalence about the role of probation officers as either punitive or preventative. Recommendations are made for policy development and changes in probation service practice.

Probation officers' roles in intensive supervision: Surveillance versus treatment

This is a study of role conflict in two intensive supervision sites, Ohio and Georgia. Most authorities believe that the traditional roles of probation officers, “social work” and “law enforcement,” conflict and are potentially incompatible. This belief disagrees with the professional idea of role integration, on which little empirical work has been done. In this study, two questionnaires and five cases were given to 31 officers representing two sites with differing organizational philosophies. It was found that both the officers' philosophies and the case tasks varied between the sites. The “law enforcer” role appears to be a product of both personal philosophy and organizational policy, whereas the “social worker” role is influenced more heavily by organizational policy. The idea of role incompatibility was not supported.

Ethical Issues in the Field of Probation

The present paper is an attempt to discuss some of the important ethical issues confronting the field of probation. Special attention is focussed on the potential conflicts that arise from the two major roles that traditionally are assigned to probation officers: that of helping agent, and that of enforcer of legal conditions. Other ethical problems arise from the pressures placed on the probation officer as a result of the organizational structure of a given department and the level of government in which it is located. Those located on the national level must deal with ethical issues that differ from those on the state level, which in turn are different from those found on the local levels. In addition, the influence of contemporary conditions on daily decisions made by probation officers raise important ethical considerations. Such factors as lack of adequate resources in a period of recession, the increased incidence of violent offenders in the population of probationers, and caseloads that prohibit adequate supervision all serve to create conditions that place the probation officer in a position where the decisions that are made have serious ethical implications. These factors are discussed in the context of right to treatment or adequate supervision. The use of the probation officer's role in community control programs is also viewed in terms of ethical issues. As new programs are developed to cope with ever-expanding prison populations, new and different ethical considerations will have to be dealt with in the field.

The Role of Probation Officers: An Examination of Statutory Requirements

Previous researchers have examined the role of probation officers and have found rehabilitation to be the primary function. While assessing probation officer roles researchers have examined the preferred and actual roles, while neglecting the legally prescribed roles set forth in state legal codes. To fill this void in the research, we examined 1992 legal codes for all fifty states to locate the prescribed legislative roles as defined by state legislatures for probation officers. Our findings indicate that enforcement oriented tasks (not rehabilitative tasks) were most frequently prescribed. Suggestions for additional research on probation officer roles are made.

Economic Sanctions in Criminal Justice: Dilemma for Human Service?

The present study analyzes data from a large metropolitan adult probation jurisdiction to investigate the impact of various types of economic sanctions (e.g., supervision fees, restitution, fines) on revenue and clients’ compliance. Fee collections and delinquency rates reflected higher compliance among misdemeanor than felony probationers. Lower compliance among felony probationers was attributable to the imposition of multiple economic sanctions and the demographic characteristics of offenders. The findings on recovery rates indicated that the courts employed inadequate financial screening procedures. However, the analysis showed that judges were reluctant to revoke probation of delinquent probationers. The effects of economic sanctions on the role of probation officers are also discussed.