Whitehead: Juvenile Justice, 7th Edition

1. What are some of the current trends in juvenile probation?
Your Answer

Correct Answer

Current trends in juvenile probation include the balanced approach, the punitive model, restorative justice, peacemaking, and community justice. \ Another current emphasis is utilizing effective intervention principles and programs.



2. What are some problems in probation that you should be aware of?
Your Answer

Correct Answer

Some problems are goal confusion, the desire of some to use negative practices such as shame tactics, and difficulties in actually implementing effective interventions. For example, it might be difficult to obtain the needed resources to implement effective principles and programs.



3. Every year you have to present your budget to the County Legislature. How might you do this in such a way as to get the necessary resources for your agency?
Your Answer

Correct Answer

A start would be to present information on effective programming that reduces recidivism. Related to that, you could note cost-benefit studies such as that done in Washington State indicating the dollar savings per offender for specific programs. You could explain how the adoption of such programs for 200 probationers in your county could result in similar savings for the County.

Case Study 2

You have just been made a Supervisor in the Jefferson County Probation Department. You have six probation officers whom you supervise. Officers vary in how much experience they have, from one year to 20 years on the job. The officers use a mix of supervision strategies. Some might be described as having a social worker orientation. Others take a tougher approach.

Questions

1. What might you want to discuss at meetings with your officers in your first months on the job?
Your Answer

Correct Answer

You could discuss current trends in community supervision such as the balanced approach, the punitive model, restorative justice, peacemaking, and community justice.



2. Two of your officers had some courses in counseling in college. They say that they would like to use a Rogerian approach, also known as non-directive counseling. In this approach, the counselor tries to get the client (here, the probationer) to rely on and use her inner strengths to solve her own problems. How should you respond to these two officers?
Your Answer

Correct Answer

As the chapter shows, research indicates that cognitive-behavioral approaches are more effective than non-directive approaches. So you would discuss principles of effective interventions with these officers, noting that there have been studies showing the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral approaches and motivational interviewing.



3. What else might you emphasize with your officers?
Your Answer

Correct Answer

Both the balanced approach and restorative justice emphasize restitution and community service as programs that can increase a sense of accountability in offenders and result in positive outcomes. In turn, increased accountability and outcomes such as restitution payments to victims can increase the community's perception of the effectiveness of the probation department.

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