Resilience of Dutch probation officers: A critical need for a critical profession

Abstract

This article presents the first research findings into the resilience of Dutch probation officers. The research has been a part of European-funded SPORE project, that aimed to identify approaches that appear to have a positive impact on probation officers' resilience. The theoretical starting point for the research was the Stress Shield Model, developed and validated in research among police officers. This model views resilience as the capacity to cope with, adapt to, and develop from the demands, challenges and changes encountered as a result of working in a critical occupation. The model describes resilience as an outcome, resulting from the interaction between organizational, peer related, and individual factors.By means of five focus groups and an internet survey consisting of questionnaires measuring the model factors, the research aimed to identify how the factors in the

Resilience in animal care professions: does the stress shield model fit?

“…Though the effect was small, it is contrary to both the SSM and earlier research findings of conscientiousness as a positive predictor of satisfaction in meta-analysis (Judge et al, 2002b). High conscientiousness has been previously related to perfectionism and high expectations of self and others, such that when expectations are not met by the environment individuals are less likely to experience satisfaction in their occupations (Carter et al, 2016;Vogelvang et al, 2014). Animal care professionals have been known to encounter moral stress as personal values and expectations toward animal care are contradicted (Rohlf & Bennett, 2005), such unmet personal expectations may create additional vulnerability in highly conscientious animal carers to become dissatisfied with their work.…”

Operational and organisational stressors in community correctional work: Insights from probation and parole officers in Ontario, Canada

“…In the literature, scholars identify several operational stressors that community correctional staff face as a result of their work with probationers/parolees or victims, including perceived or actual threats to personal safety from those under their supervision ( Finn and Kuck, 2005 ; Lewis et al, 2013 ; Morran, 2008 ; Vogelvang et al, 2014 ), client death by suicide ( Lewis et al, 2013 ), and feelings of burnout that arise from the emotional labour required to engage effectively with clients ( Phillips et al, 2020 ). However, the most notable of these operational stressors is exposure to PPTEs and resultant secondary trauma.…”

Criminal careers behind foreign bars: A latent class analysis of Dutch prisoners

“…Specific attention should be paid to the International Office-part of the Dutch Probation Service-which provides guidance to Dutch prisoners in a voluntary framework under which prisoners themselves must grant permission for supervision (Vogelvang et al, 2015). Dutch prisoners are visited by volunteers living in the country of imprisonment, and they have contact with employees of the International Office.…”

“…This variation emphasizes the importance of explicit definitions. The current study focuses on Dutch citizens who are incarcerated in penal institutions in a country that is not their country of permanent residence because they are suspected or convicted for committing a criminal offense (for similar definitions, see Hofstee-van der Meulen, 2015; Vogelvang et al, 2015).…”

“…For example, even though most Dutch prisoners are able to communicate with their relatives, it appears difficult to establish and maintain contact. In addition, regarding support for release and reintegration in society offered by prison authorities and governments, Dutch prisoners are commonly not allowed to make prison-leave schemes (Hofstee-van der Meulen, 2015; Vogelvang et al, 2015).…”