PROBLEM ORIENTED RECORD USED IN A PROBATION SETTING

• NCJ Number: 26235
• Journal: Federal Probation Volume: 39 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1975) Pages: 47-51
• Author(s): R M SMITH
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Administrative Office of the United States Courts
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A DESCRIPTION OF THE BURLINGTON PROBATION OFFICE'S USE OF THIS CASEWORK REPORTING SYSTEM WHICH INCLUDES COMPREHENSIVE BACKGROUND DATA AND FOCUSES ON CLIENT PROBLEMS WHICH SHOULD BE SOLVED DURING PROBATION.

Abstract

MINIMUM DATA WHICH MUST BE INCLUDED IN EACH CASE UNDER THIS SYSTEM INCLUDES LEGAL HISTORY, FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, SIGNIFICANT PERSONS IN THE PROBATIONER'S LIFE, THE THINGS THE PROBATIONER HOLDS IMPORTANT, THE HISTORY OF DRUG OR ALCOHOL ABUSE, AND FINANCIAL, MEDICAL, PSYCHIATRIC, AND EDUCATIONAL HISTORIES. AFTER GATHERING THIS DATA, A LIST OF BASIC PROBLEM AREAS IS FORMULATED, AND THE SERIOUSNESS OF EACH IS NOTED. THEN, UNDER EACH PROBLEM, THE PROBATION WORKER SHOULD INCLUDE THE PROBATIONER'S THOUGHTS ON THE PROBLEM, AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION, AND A PLAN FOR DEALING WITH THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM. THE AUTHOR MAINTAINS THAT WHEN ORGANIZED IN THIS MANNER ALL THE RELEVANT DATA IS READILY VISIBLE AND PROBLEM AREAS CANNOT BE IGNORED OR FORGOTTEN. ANOTHER IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THIS PROBLEM ORIENTED RECORD SYSTEM IS THE PEER REVIEW COMMITTEE. DURING WEEKLY TWO-HOUR MEETINGS, INDIVIDUAL CASES ARE REVIEWED IN THEIR ENTIRETY BY ALL PROBATION WORKERS. IN THIS MANNER, SUGGESTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS ON CASE HANDLING CAN BE MADE AND SPOT CHECKS ON PROBATION OFFICER'S WORK CAN BE CONDUCTED.