In 2001, the province of Ontario implemented a new policy aimed at incorporating best practices from the literature into probation and parole services. This new policy, named the Probation and Parole Service Delivery Model (PPSDM), has several objectives, including: a) employ assessment-based decisions; b) assume a case management approach in probation and parole supervision; c) consider risk to reoffend and criminogenic needs in intervention and supervision; d) reserve the highest level of supervision for those most at risk to reoffend; and, e) use the least intrusive levels of intervention necessary while ensuring public safety. The policy also included the development of five supervision streams based on risk level, criminogenic needs, and other factors, for which supervision and intervention standards differ (Côté, 2003). A random sample of 200 from each of the five streams was chosen from 2004 and 2005 and matched to a sample supervised prior to PPSDM implementation (from 1998) resulting in an overall sample of 2890 offenders. The groups were compared on various measures of recidivism to determine whether the PPSDM has been effective in reducing recidivism. No significant differences in recidivism rates were found between the comparison and PPSDM groups. However, the recidivism was marginally less severe for the PPSDM groups, along with higher rates of fail to comply type offences. These results suggest possible increased enforcement of technical violations, which may have contributed to the lack of significant differences in recidivism rates. Results are discussed in relation to effective correctional practices and policy implementation.

In 2001, the province of Ontario implemented a new policy aimed at incorporating best practices from the literature into probation and parole services. This new policy, named the Probation and Parole Service Delivery Model (PPSDM), has several objectives, including: a) employ assessment-based decisions; b) assume a case management approach in probation and parole supervision; c) consider risk to reoffend and criminogenic needs in intervention and supervision; d) reserve the highest level of supervision for those most at risk to reoffend; and, e) use the least intrusive levels of intervention necessary while ensuring public safety. The policy also included the development of five supervision streams based on risk level, criminogenic needs, and other factors, for which supervision and intervention standards differ (Côté, 2003). A random sample of 200 from each of the five streams was chosen from 2004 and 2005 and matched to a sample supervised prior to PPSDM implementation (from 1998) resulting in an overall sample of 2890 offenders. The groups were compared on various measures of recidivism to determine whether the PPSDM has been effective in reducing recidivism. No significant differences in recidivism rates were found between the comparison and PPSDM groups. However, the recidivism was marginally less severe for the PPSDM groups, along with higher rates of fail to comply type offences. These results suggest possible increased enforcement of technical violations, which may have contributed to the lack of significant differences in recidivism rates. Results are discussed in relation to effective correctional practices and policy implementation.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 1978. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 190-198). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Virginia Commonwealth University, 2009. / Prepared for: L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. Title from title-page of electronic thesis. Bibliography: leaves 126 -138.

During the past decade, China has accepted and extensively adopted probation as a type of community-based sanctions. Since 2003, the number of offenders granted probation in China has greatly increased. However, few empirical studies have focused on the impact of probation, the effect of environments that probationers re-enter or what factors are associated with better probation outcomes. This study fills this gap by evaluating probation outcomes over a one-year follow up on a sample of 250 male probationers. The primary aim of this exploratory study is to examine what factors make probation work better from the social learning perspective. This study tests interaction effects between the person and the social environment in which the probationers’ learning occurs. This study also categorizes potential variables into a theoretical framework of static and dynamic risk factors. This study poses two main research questions: (1) Does probation lower the likelihood of reoffending? (2) What specific factors explain whether probationers reoffend during their probation? This study uses unique, first-hand, self-report data from 250 male Chinese probationers. Probationers were interviewed with a structured questionnaire at the start of the study and revisited 12 months later and asked about their probation experience. Probation outcomes were measured by self-reported reoffending behaviors, including recidivism and technical violations. This was triangulated by reports from probation officers. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the effects of static and dynamic risk variables on self-reported probation outcomes. Logistic regressions demonstrated that age, employment status, contact with antisocial companions, leisure status, family/marital circumstance, and relationship with probation officers were all significantly associated with probation outcomes. Logistic regressions also demonstrated that leisure status and contact with antisocial companions were critical factors explaining probation success and failure. The main implication of the findings is that personal and interpersonal factors are important in explaining probationers’ reoffending behaviors. Finally, this study also has implications for social services for probationers from relationship and structuring perspectives. / published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

The purpose of this study was to consider to what degree each of two sexual offender programs offered by Manitoba Justice adhere to the research based practice principles of risk, need, and responsivity and to assess the degree of therapeutic alliance that is created in each group. In-person interviews were conducted with employees and past participants who are connected to each of the programs. Current participants of the two programs were asked to complete a questionnaire about therapeutic alliance. The findings indicated that neither of the programs adhere to the risk principle, both adhere to the responsivity principle, and only one adheres to the need principle. There was no difference on the clients’ perception of therapeutic alliance within the groups. Recommendations provided with regards to the sexual offender programming offered by Manitoba Justice include consistent programming, education/mentorship, utilizing a secondary risk assessment, and evaluation and research.

The purpose of this study was to consider to what degree each of two sexual offender programs offered by Manitoba Justice adhere to the research based practice principles of risk, need, and responsivity and to assess the degree of therapeutic alliance that is created in each group. In-person interviews were conducted with employees and past participants who are connected to each of the programs. Current participants of the two programs were asked to complete a questionnaire about therapeutic alliance. The findings indicated that neither of the programs adhere to the risk principle, both adhere to the responsivity principle, and only one adheres to the need principle. There was no difference on the clients’ perception of therapeutic alliance within the groups. Recommendations provided with regards to the sexual offender programming offered by Manitoba Justice include consistent programming, education/mentorship, utilizing a secondary risk assessment, and evaluation and research.

No description available.

Community based probation practice and development is concerned with specific forms of Probation Service supervision described here as community probation work, and other, non-supervisory, practices described as community work and crime prevention work. For both sets of practices the probation fieldwork team acts as the frame of reference where primacy is given to enhanced service delivery systems, and where the locality is a referral source and a resource, not simply a remote situational context. The study begins by describing the Probation Service's philanthropic origins, the merger of criminal justice and social work, and the legislative base for, and function of, subsequent supervisory developments. It then explores the variety of ways in which the "community" has recently emerged as an additional focus for Probation intervention. The empirical study into the work of a new community Probation Team reveals the complexities of translating policy intentions into working community based probation practices. The bulk of the empirical work is concerned with exploring the ways in which this inner city team defined, implemented and sustained its practices. Evidence is provided for claiming that the implementation of community based probation practice requires an explicit acknowledgement not only of organisational imperatives, but of other more significant and interdependent factors. External legislative requirements, internal administrative factors and interactional forces (symbolised by client/worker exchanges), the local setting and the national social context, are regarded as particularly significant. At a theoretical level, and drawing on some of the insights offered by interactionism and functionalism, the study examines the creation of a new community Probation Team, as one societal reaction, amidst others, to a social problem, namely the 1981 urban disturbances in Brixton. The empirical work suggests that a three-fold conceptual model based on social control, social welfare, and social justice considerations provides a valuable theo;retical instrument for analysing community based probation practice and development. The study ends by drawing together these theoretical features, as well as examining some policy and organisational implications for the Probation Service arising from such work.

Thesis (LL. M.)--Judge Advocate General's School, United States Army, 1974. / "March 1974." Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 102-103). Also issued in microfiche.