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TEAM MANAGEMENT IN PROBATION, SOME MODELS FOR IMPLEMENTATION

NCJ Number
10125
Author(s)
D C SULLIVAN
Date Published
1972
Length
45 pages
Annotation
PROPOSAL TO STRUCTURE PROBATION ORGANIZATIONS INTO TEAMS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE MORE OBJECTIVE MANAGERIAL STYLES AND INNOVATIVE TREATMENT CONCEPTS.
Abstract
IN VIEW OF INCREASING CASELOADS, THE DIVERSITY OF OFFENDERS, AND THE SHIFT TOWARD COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION, A CHANGE IN THE GOAL ORIENTATION OF PROBATION SERVICE IS ESSENTIAL. PROBATION ORGANIZATIONS ARE FACED WITH SPECIFIC DILEMMAS ON THREE LEVELS OF ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITY - (1) GOAL DIRECTED ACTIVITIES, (2) ADAPTATION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES, AND (3) INTERNAL MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES, THEREFORE, FLEXIBILITY IS IMPORTANT. THIS BOOKLET PROPOSES THAT THE FRAMEWORK OF BUREAUCRATIC PROBATION ORGANIZATIONS BE RESTRUCTURED INTO SMALLER WORK UNITS OR TEAMS. IN THIS CONTEXT, THREE POSSIBLE MODELS FOR PROBATION TEAMS ARE CONSIDERED - A RESOURCE COORDINATING MODEL, A REINTEGRATION TEAM MODEL, AND A NEW CAREERS MODEL. IN ADDITION, TEAM COMPOSITION AND DEVELOPMENT ARE DISCUSSED. THE CONCEPT OF TEAM MANAGEMENT HAS PROVED SUCCESSFUL IN INDUSTRIAL SETTINGS, IT IS CONTENDED THAT THE APPLICATION OF THIS METHOD TO THE CORRECTIONAL FIELD, SPECIFICALLY PROBATION AND PAROLE, WOULD ALSO MEET THE NEEDS OF CHANGING CORRECTIONAL POLICY.