Project (Ed.S.)--James Madison University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1987.

published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Master / Master of Social Sciences

This thesis examines professional supervision practice under new public management from the perspectives of probation officers and service managers in the Community Probation Service. In particular, the research explores the participants’ philosophy of professional supervision, their recent supervision experiences, and their aspirations and expectations with regard to professional supervision. In order to provide a background for an informed analysis and discussion of the research findings, the thesis discusses the key themes in the social service supervision and new public management literature. It also examines the Community Probation Service’s context and the history of new public management and professional supervision in this organisation. The thesis is a qualitative study that is informed by social work practice theory and utilises the phenomenological and hermeneutic approaches. The research findings show that amongst the participants there was: (a) an unclear philosophy of supervision; (b) minimal recent experience of supervision and little ownership or support for the agency supervision project; (c) a belief that the context increased their need for supervision, but at the same time reduced their ability to receive or participate in it; (d) an expectation that professional supervision would assist them to work more effectively with clients and staff; (e) an expectation of good committed supervisors who would support and help them develop; and (f) an expectation that the agency would support professional supervision through resourcing, guidelines, accredited supervisors and the establishment of a learning culture. The major implications of these findings are that: (1) there is a need for staff to be socialised into professional social service supervision; (2) that the professional supervision programme within the Community Probation Service, as currently implemented, is unlikely to be successful; and (3) that professional social service supervision needs to be focused upon persons and their environments, rather than upon the agency.

Mentally ill juveniles who are incarcerated in correctional facilities receive minimal or no treatment services. The research in this thesis determines that mentally ill juvenile offenders receive inadequate treatment. It also determined that juvenile correctional officers as well as others in the criminal justice system are not trained properly to deal with mentally ill juveniles.

Syftet med denna studie var att belysa svenska frivårdsinspektörers erfarenheter av att använda RBM-modellen. Vi har genomfört en kvalitativ intervjustudie med sex frivårdsinspektörer. Frivårdsinspektörerna uppvisade en positiv inställning till användandet av RBM-modellen. De uppvisade även erfarenheter av att det finns brister och svårigheter i användningen av modellen och kopplade detta till riskbedömningsinstrument och klienternas egenheter. De positiva inslag som användningen av modellen har tillfört är en struktur, tydlighet och fokus i arbetet samt att frivårdsinspektörerna lyfte RBM-modellens relativa övertag mot tidigare arbetssätt. Det framkom även i studien skilda uppfattningar rörande RBM-modellens mottaglighetsprincip. Frivårdsinspektörernas olika syn på detta område var något som kunde tänkas påverka deras användning av principen. De brister som kopplades till användningen bestod av flera möjliga faktorer. En av dessa var den grundutbildning rörande modellen som ges inom Kriminalvården. Utbildningen kan vara en förklarande faktor till de svårigheter frivårdsinspektörerna identifierade i sitt arbete med RBM-modellens mottaglighetsprincip. / The purpose of this study was to examine and illustrate Swedish probation officers’ experiences of their use of the RNR model. We have completed six qualitative interviews with probation officers. The probation officers showed a positive attitude towards the RNR model. They also showed experiences of flaws and difficulties in their use of the model and related these to the risk assessment instrument and the characteristics of the clients. The positive effects that the use of the RNR model had was that it brought structure, lucidity and focus to their work. They also pointed out the models relative advantage towards earlier methods. It was also clear that the probation officers had different views of the responsivity principle. These different views could affect their use of this principle. The difficulties regarding the use of the model that could be related to the probation officers’ experiences consisted of several possible causes. Education regarding the model was one of these possible causes that we found could explain the experienced difficulties in the probation officers use of the RNR model.

This study reports on survey research into Florida Probation Officers' attitudes towards the causes of crime, the criminal offender and rehabilitation and treatment. The views on crime and on the offender are shaped by at least three major theoretical perspectives. First, this paper examines whether probation officers identify more with the classical theories, the biological theories or the sociological theories of criminology. Secondly, the probation officers' attitudes toward offenders are examined. For example, do probation officers express any positive opinions about the population they interact with, or do they feel that all offenders are equally bad? The third part of this research is geared towards the officers' attitudes about rehabilitation and treatment of offenders. Some current literature suggests that the field of probation is presently moving in a more punitive direction and away from the concept of rehabilitation. This research examines if this trend is reflected in probation officers' beliefs. In addition, the study shows how the probation officers in this sample feel about their jobs.

Management practices in the rehabilitation and criminal justice system are primarily concerned with how employees sense, collect, organize, and process information regarding the criminal offender. The purpose of this quantitative study was to measure parole and probation officers' perceptions regarding management support and effectiveness in the workplace, with particular emphasis on communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution. Herzberg's 2-factor theory of motivation served as the theoretical framework for the study, supporting the concept of participatory management as a central factor in job satisfaction. A researcher-designed, Likert-type questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected sample of 31 parole and probation officers in Baltimore County. The sample size was determined using a power analysis for the 2-sample t test. The power analysis was completed with alpha levels of .05, and a .80 level of statistical power. Participants had been employed for at least a year as parole and probation officers who supervised African American criminal offenders. Results from the questionnaires were analyzed using t tests, frequency distribution analysis, and comparison of means analysis, with mixed findings. The majority of participants felt that managers provide a positive overall work environment and effectively communicate with parole and probation officers. At the same time, the majority of respondents also believed that managers do not collaborate with employees and do not resolve conflicts with employees in a timely manner. Possible reasons for these contradictory perceptions are discussed. The study contributes to positive social change by providing leaders with improved methods for measuring parole and probation officers' perceptions regarding managerial support for and effectiveness in the rehabilitation of reentry offenders.

Children are the most vulnerable group. Their protection should be a priority for society. In particular, those who are accused of committing crime need to be protected from entering the criminal justice system and measures should be put in place to prevent the stigmatisation associated with having a criminal record. Such protection is endorsed by section 28 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996).This study outlines the role played by a probation officer in the diversion process. This was achieved by examining international and national instruments that promote the protection of children in conflict with the law. The Child Justice Act No. 75 of 2008 forms part of national instruments. It provides guidelines for probation officers and other stake holders in the justice system on how to deal with children who are accused of committing crimes. Recommendations on the identified challenges and gaps are made. / Corrections Management / M.A. (Corrections Management)