PO Probation Officers, job description, missions, community corrections programs, playbook, sanction, punishment, sustainable positive behaviors, graduated sanctions
In the old days, penalties of imprisonment and floggings were the hallmarks of PO harshness; infractions resulted in fines and imprisonment. Now, it is a "coaching" model, a team-working approach, where the PO and offender support each other to promote a change of behavior (Lovins et al., 2018). In addition, they established improved conduct.
The three most exciting roles that have evolved as part of a PO's responsibilities include evaluating offenders' strengths, deficits, and criminogenic needs to generate personalized plans (Norman et al., 2022). POs also create connections and trustworthiness to encourage a sense of responsibility and inmate rehabilitation (Lovins et al., 2018). Lastly, their role includes training, goodwill encouragement, and positive feedback to ex-offenders, which have successfully helped offenders rehabilitate and avoid future law issues (Tiernan & Terry, 2024).
[...] (2022). How probation officers understand and work with people on community supervision sentences to enhance compliance. Probation Journal, 472-492. https://doi.org/10.1177/02645505211041579 Tiernan, H., & Terry, A. N. (2024). Effectiveness of Community Supervision: Incorporating Evidence-Based Practices into a Nation's Obsession with Supervision. Journal of Community Justice, 33(2). [...]
[...] POs also create connections and trustworthiness to encourage a sense of responsibility and inmate rehabilitation (Lovins et al., 2018). Lastly, their role includes training, goodwill encouragement, and positive feedback to ex-offenders, which have successfully helped offenders rehabilitate and avoid future law issues (Tiernan & Terry, 2024). Key Talents of Probation Officers Assessment POs must be proficient in using indicated risk/control devices, such as preference inventories, to identify criminals' potential and weak points. The ability to assign different intensity levels to different offenders allows them to focus on those considered high-risk, and their needs will be addressed through targeted interventions (Norman et al., 2022). [...]
[...] It can lead to more effective supervision practices. Incorporating these crucial skills into community supervision can radically alter the ideas and practices of this management form. One of the primary uses of standardized risk/needs assessments is that probation officers can order their resources more efficiently and well by concentrating on higher-risk offenders (Norman et al., 2022). Skill development and reinforcement techniques may enhance offenders' resolve and motivate them to abide by the supervision stipulations and avoid criminality in the future (Tiernan & Terry, 2024). [...]
[...] Through the reinforcement of positive behaviors, the balance between accountability and support, and providing appropriate supervision interventions, POs can develop the offender's motivation to adhere and work towards successful reintegration into the community. Supervision Playbook POs should possess a "playbook" of research-based probation interventions to practice with the offenders during their supervision. This comprises primary operational correctional measures, which include anti-criminal modeling, problem-solving, and cognitive restructuring (Lovins et al., 2018). By constantly implementing research-proven practices into their everyday work, POs can validate behavioral changes and significantly lower the return to prison rates. [...]
[...] T., Latessa, E. J., & Jonson, C. L. (2018). Probation officer as a coach: Building a new professional identity. Federal Probation, 13-19. Norman, E. M., Wilson, L., Starkey, N. J., & Polaschek, D. L. [...]
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