Probation officer victimization: An emerging concern

Educational Competency as an Indicator of Occupational Stress for Probation and Parole Officers

“…A review of the literature reveals excessive paperwork as one of the most consistent findings contributing to high levels of probation and parole officer stress (Simmons et al 1997;Thomas 1988;Whisler 1994). Other areas that contribute to probation and parole officer stress include: role ambiguity and role conflict; ineffectiveness of the judicial system; anxiety stemming from decisions they make or fail to make that affect public safety; courts being too lenient on offenders; low salaries; lack of participation in organizational decision-making; ineffective supervisors; limited opportunities for career advancement; lack of positive recognition; and, a general lack of high-quality community programs for rehabilitation and treatment (Brown 1987;Domurad 2000;Farrow 2004;Finn and Kuck 2005;Holgate and Clegg 1991;Kahn et al 1964;Katz and Kahn 1966;Lindner and Bonn 1996;Lindner and Koehler 1992;Lindner and Del Castillo 1994;Simmons et al 1997;Slate et al 2003;Whisler 1994;White et al 2006;Whitehead 1985Whitehead , 1987. Individuals who continue to face these sorts of stressors may experience a range of stress induced symptoms including: risk-taking behaviors, emotional troubles, and health problems.…”

Come and Knock on Our Door: Offenders’ Perspectives on Home Visits Through Ecological Theory

“…Since the early 20th century, probation personnel have utilized home visits (Chute, 1922; Ferris, 1933). There were two broad principles related to the home visit: investigatory and supervisory (Lindner & Koehler, 1992). Within these two broad principles, there were some targeted goals: to check up on the offender and provide some sort of deterrent, provide any necessary social services, and allow the probation officer to evaluate the family as well (Chute, 1922; Harris, 1984; Lindner, 1992).…”

“…Officers have too many cases to provide consistent and thorough supervision to their charges. One of the first accounts of caseload issues came from Young (1937), and extensive caseloads have been noted in the literature for decades (Lindner & Koehler, 1992; Petersilia, 1985; Rothman, 1980; Tappan, 1960; White, Gasperin, Nystrom, Ambrose, & Esarey, 2005).…”

“…The literature explains many components related to home visits, but no one has yet addressed how criminal offenders understand these visits, especially through the requirement of a court-sanctioned rehabilitative process. For example, Lindner and Koehler (1992) discussed the why of home visits, DeMichele and colleagues (2011) observed the technical concerns of home visits, and Harris (1984) and Lindner (1992) examined the officers’ perceptions of home visits. Previous research has also demonstrated an important goal of community corrections is to promote positive interpersonal relationships between probation officers and the offenders (Bonta, Rugge, Scott, Bourgon, & Yessine, 2008; Bourgon & Guiterrez, 2013), but do offenders perceive court-ordered, mandatory home visits as a foundation of prosocial development?…”

Should community supervision officers carry firearms?: A survey of intensive supervision officers

“…Because of this, probation departments are faced with the need to equip and train officers with the skills, including firearms training, necessary to deal with offender populations which increasingly consist of serious felons (Johnson and Jones, 1994). Downloaded by [Florida International University] at 09:57 21 December 2014 Another factor, related to increases in felony probation, which has contributed to the concerns for firearm usage among probation officers, is an increased concern for victimization (Abadinsky, 1994;Lindner and Koehler, 1992;Parsonage, 1990). Lindner and Koehler (1992) contribute the increased concern for victimization among probation officers to a more difficult probation population, the increased use of classification systems which require more contacts with high-risk offenders, and a general belief that violence is more prevalent in society.…”