NCJ Number
17501
Date Published
1973
Length
50 pages
Annotation
TWO PROJECTS ARE EVALUATED IN THIS STUDY - THE USE OF A PROBATION AIDE IN THE JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICE AND THE NEW CAREERS PROGRAM, WHICH USED WORK RELEASE PARTICIPANTS AS COTTAGE AIDES AT A HOME FOR BOYS.
Abstract
THE JUVENILE PROBATION AIDE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO RECRUIT AND TRAIN MINORITY PERSONNEL FOR PRE-ENTRY LEVEL PROBATION OFFICER POSITIONS AND TO ALLEVIATE THE PROFESSIONAL PROBATION OFFICER FROM PERFORMING TIME CONSUMING ROUTINE TASKS. THIS PROGRAM WAS EVALUATED IN RELATION TO ITS OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS. IMPACT ON THE PROBATION OFFICE AND THE PROBATION OFFICER, AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PROBATION OFFICER AND THE AIDES. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE PROJECT HAD NOT BEEN A SUCCESS FOR SEVERAL REASONS, INCLUDING THE SHORT-TERM NATURE OF PROJECT FUNDING, THE AIDE'S LACK OF VERTICAL JOB MOBILITY, AND THE MENIAL NATURE OF THE WORK. EVALUATORS SUGGEST THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SUCCESSFUL IF THE ADMINISTRATION HAD MORE CAREFULLY DEFINED THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT, THE FUNCTIONS OF THE AIDES, AND THE DAILY SUPERVISION OF THE AIDE'S ACTIVITIES. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT A SCHEDULE AND TIMETABLE BE PROVIDED FOR UPGRADING THE PROBATION AIDE AND THAT AIDES BE ASSIGNED TO SENIOR PROBATION OFFICERS FOR DAILY SUPERVISION AND EVALUATION. THE NEW CAREERS PROJECT WAS EVALUATED IN RELATION TO ITS PROJECT ADMINISTRATION, THE INSTITUTE AND PARTICIPANT CHANGE, AND THE OVERALL GOAL ACHIEVEMENT. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE USE OF WORK RELEASE PERSONNEL WAS OF GREAT ADVANTAGE TO THE HOME AS ASSISTANCE TO THE ADMINISTRATION, A DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIALIZED TALENTS OF THE STAFF, AND AN ADDITION OF RESPONSIVE COUNSELORS TO THE COTTAGES. AN OVERVIEW IS PRESENTED OF WHAT THE EVALUATORS SEE AS WEAKNESSES OF THE CONCEPT OF THE UTILIZATION OF SUBPROFESSIONALS AS PART OF THE PERSONNEL UPGRADING OF SPECIFIC ADMINISTRATIONS.