Probation Training Essay

2935 Words12 Pages
Roque Rojas CJ272 MWF Management Issues: The Development of Probation Training In this paper on management issues in probation, I will look into the development of probation training. Probation training issues I will cover in this paper will be casework, safety, mental health of offenders, and working with juvenile offenders. First I will talk about general probation training issues, and then I will look into more specific training and their development. Basic Training Issues The first federal probation training institutes began in the 1930s and they focused on casework and other “everyday problems” (Brown, 1997). Interest in training grew dramatically over the years, with state and local agencies making their contributions (Ives, 1963). Keeping probation officers engaged in this educational experience has had its issues, considering their busy schedules. According to Jane K. Ives, a probation examiner, one of the major issues are “the selection of the subject matter and focus for training sessions to fit the readiness of trainees.” At the crux of the issue, Ives says, is to identify and meet the needs of the probation officer at his level of development. Ives then identifies the most discernible patterns of need: clarifying one’s role, developing casework methods, and understanding the behaviors of probationers. The role of a probation officer is quite complex and should be clarified as it differs from other roles in the criminal justice system (Ives, 1963). Unlike other roles, the probation officer’s role is to help reintegrate the offender back into society. Department rules concerning contacts to be made with probationers are reviewed, emphasizing on social treatment as a process in which the offender and the officer work purposefully. Of course, in most cases the offender tends to view the officer as “another cop” and the officer may feel this
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