NCJ Number
9999
Date Published
1963
Length
39 pages
Annotation
SURVEY OF THE WAYS IN WHICH WISCONSIN STATE AGENTS PERCEIVE THEMSELVES, THEIR JOBS, AND THEIR RELATION WITH THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION.
Abstract
THE BASIC IDENTIFICATION OF THE WISCONSIN PROBATION AND PAROLE AGENT IS WITH THE FIELD OF CORRECTIONS, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, WITH PROBATION AND PAROLE. THIS IDENTIFICATION IS EXPRESSED WITH VARYING DEGREES OF INTENSITY, DEPENDING UPON THE SITUATION IN WHICH IT IS EXPRESSED. IN DEALING WITH JUDGES, POLICE OFFICERS, AND EMPLOYERS NEARLY ALL AGENTS REPRESENT THEMSELVES AS 'PROBATION AND PAROLE AGENTS.' OTHER SITUATIONS-SUCH AS MAKING AN APPLICATION FOR CREDIT OR SERVING IN A PUBLIC RELATIONS CAPACITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARECALL FOR DIFFERENT IDENTIFICATIONS ON THE PART OF MANY AGENTS. THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE CASEWORK CONCEPT OF SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE CLIENT AND ITS ATTENDANT ASSUMPTIONS OF THE SICKNESS OR MALADJUSTMENT OF DEVIANTS, AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROBATION AND PAROLE AGENT FOR THE PROTECTION OF SOCIETY, IS EVIDENT IN THE WISCONSIN SERVICE. THE OLDER, EXPERIENCED AGENTS HAVE RESOLVED THIS DILEMMA BY RECOGNIZING THAT THEIR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IS THE PROTECTION OF SOCIETY, WITH THE REHABILITATION OF THE CLIENT AS AN IMPORTANT SECONDARY GOAL. THIS DILEMMA IS OF MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANCE TO THE YOUNGER AND LESS EXPERIENCED AGENTS. INTERVIEWING AND OBSERVING THE WORK OF THE AGENTS SHOWED THAT THEY SPEND MUCH TIME ON PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF THE JOB. THEY ARE ALL INVOLVED IN PROVIDING CERTAIN SERVICES TO THEIR CLIENTS. THESE SERVICES ARE JOB FINDING AND PLACEMENT, FINANCIAL COUNSELING, THE COLLECTION OF RESTITUTION AND THE UTILIZATION OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)