NCJ Number
59720
Editor(s)
N HARLOW
Date Published
1979
Length
125 pages
Annotation
CALIFORNIA PROBATION PROFESSIONALS TAKE A POSITIVE, ASSERTIVE, AND PROGRESSIVE STAND ON CRITICAL ISSUES FACING PROBATION, POSTULATE ON ITS FUTURE, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.
Abstract
A COMMITTEE OF PROBATION OFFICERS FROM ALL LEVELS OF STAFF AND MANAGEMENT COLLECTED DATA FOR 6 MONTHS USING A SURVEY OF 37 OF CALIFORNIA'S 60 PROBATION DEPARTMENTS, LITERATURE AND STATUTE REVIEWS, AND DATA ON PROBATION USE. ELEMENTAL ISSUES DEALT WITH BY THE STUDY WERE (1) LEGITIMATE EXPECTATIONS OF THE PROBATION SYSTEM, (2) ACHIEVEMENT AND PROMISING AVENUES FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION, AND (3) BEST ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PROBATION. DURING THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION, OTHER ISSUES EMERGED, SUCH AS WHAT LEVELS AND TYPES OF CRIME SOCIETY IS WILLING TO TOLERATE. THE FOLLOWING TRENDS, AMONG OTHERS, WERE IDENTIFIED BY THE COMMITTEE: DECLINES IN NUMBER PLACED ON PROBATION AND IN LENGTH OF PROBATION TERMS, PASSAGE OF SENTENCING LAWS CURBING THE USE OF OR ELIMINATING PROBATION USE, VOLUNTARY PROBATION, AND LEGAL ATTACKS ON PROBATION DISCRETION. CONTEMPORARY CRITICISM OF PROBATION ATTACKS THE ABILITY OF JUDGES TO ESTIMATE A PROBATION RISK, DISPARITY OF PROBATION TERMS AND CONDITIONS, EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF SUPERVISION AND PROBATION, AND THE INABILITY TO KNOW WHAT PROBATION CONDITIONS FOSTER DESIRABLE BEHAVIOR. THE COMMITTEE MAKES SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE IMAGE AND EFFICIENCY OF PROBATION AND ITS USE. SUFFICIENT RESEARCH AND ADEQUATE FUNDING AND STAFFING SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO THE PROBATION SYSTEM TO IMPROVE METHODS OF SUPERVISION, AND THESE PROBLEMS, IN ADDITION TO TRAINING AND STANDARDS, SHOULD BE DEALT WITH AT THE STATE LEVEL. PROBATION PRACTITIONERS SHOULD ANTICIPATE FUTURE DIRECTIONS AND PREPARE NEW SERVICE AND CONTROL STRATEGIES ACCORDINGLY. LEGISLATION SHOULD BE REVISED MAKING PROBATION A SENTENCING ALTERNATIVE AND PRIVILEGE, AND THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD APPROPRIATE NEEDED TIME AND RESOURCES TO RESEARCH IN BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION AND AIDS TO DISCRETIONARY DECISIONMAKING. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS OF THE HISTORY, STRUCTURE, AND FUNCTION OF PROBATION SYSTEMS, PARTICULARLY CALIFORNIA'S, ARE PROVIDED. FIGURES, REFERENCE NOTES, AND APPENDIXES ARE INCLUDED. (DAG)