NCJ Number
130158
Journal
Probation Journal Volume: 37 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1990) Pages: 60-71
Date Published
1990
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The contribution of management to Probation Services (PS) is evaluated, and an alternative leadership model which preserves the probation ideal is presented.
Abstract
The ideal of PS is offender rehabilitation and reform. However misunderstandings arise from a confusion between the enforcement of the requirements of orders and licenses and the desire that offenders should be reformed. Although probation officers have a clear duty to enforce requirements, that enforcement cannot be properly extended to reform. Within the last 25 years, the management model of organization has been applied to PS producing numerous effects, the most important of which is the imposition of changes in the nature of PS by policy makers. Furthermore, the claims of management for universal applicability, effectiveness, and moral neutrality of their model are seriously doubted. On the other hand, the proposed model of operation arrangement for PS is based on concepts of leadership and accountability which embody standards of practice and accountability. A manager embodies policy, whereas a leader embodies the authority of achievement based on the ideal of PS. 12 references (Author abstract modified)