Unit 8 Discussion Board Question Parole and probation

BCJ 3150, Probation and Parole 1 Cou rse Learning Outcomes for Unit VIII Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to: 6. Analyze the impact of rehabilitation in probation and parole. 6.1 Evaluate the various restorative solutions available for offenders after rehabilitation. 6.2 Evaluate rehabilitative community supervision strategies to reduce recidivism. 7. Analyze the role of probation and parole officers. 7.1 Examine the varying roles of probation and parole officers in offender supervision. 7.2 Evaluate the challenges facing probation and parole officers. 7.3 Analyze the qualifications and training needed to enter the field of probation or parole. Reading Assignment Chapter 12: Career Pathways in Community Corrections Chapter 14: Bringing It All Together: Practical Solutions for Community -Based Corrections Unit Lesson The institutions of probation and parole in and of themselves are odd creatures when you take a minute to think about it. Once the police officer has made the arrest and the court has imposed a sentence, it is up to the probation or parole officer to devel op a working relationship with that individual that will hopefully lead to that person making positive changes in his or her life and avoiding future interactions with the criminal justice system. But think about this concept for a minute. If a complete st ranger asked you to tell him or her everything about yourself — where you grew up, what your parents were like, did they abuse you, what drugs do you use or have you done, what are your friends like, and if you have ever been diagnosed with any mental health issues, just to name a few, you would think that person was out of his or her mind? You do not know this person, and even some of your closest friends do not know all that information about you, but that is what probation and parole officers are expected to do. They ask questions to properly assess an offender for risk, but oftentimes obtaining that information is not easy at all, which is one cause of stress for probation and parole officers. They encounter clients who are victims of abuse or trauma that causes them to have a hard time placing their trust in people, or they encounter clients who have been through the system a few times before and would not trust a probation or parole officer if she was their own mother. They see clients who have grown up i n areas where police brutality, gang violence, and people being arrested are the norm, and these clients have become complacent to their situation and have learned not to trust others because those others might not be there the next day. With this resist ance, probation and parole officers have to start their work. They have to explain court -ordered conditions or rules of release, ask a lot of questions, obtain a lot of information, and hope that the resistance slowly decreases so that they can build an ac curate picture of who they are working with and how best to address their risks and needs. They realize that this is important because if that resistant offender commits a new offense or violates his or her conditions, someone like their supervisor is boun d to ask them if that person was being supervised at the appropriate level, which is another source of stress. Probation and parole officers’ evaluations as professionals include caseload audits where their supervisors determine how well they are assessing and what needs are being identified and addressed. Of course, probation and parole officers attempt to obtain collateral information from offenders’ former employers, hospitals, schools, families, and friends; however, if the offender does not share even that basic information, then the officer is left in the dark. UNIT VIII STUDY GUIDE A Career in Probation or Parole:

Challenges and Solutions BCJ 3150, Probation and Parole 2 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title Not all probation and parole clients are resistant ; however, and for probation and parole officers who have personally invested themselves in implementing evidence -based practices in working w ith their clients, it is an extremely satisfying moment when a client understands the concepts that he or she ha s been working on in appointments, applies them in his or her life , and makes positive movement forward. However, it is at those moments when cl ients who are making positive changes inevitably slip for a moment that stress again enters the picture as the probation or parole officer questions whether the amount of time he or she invested in this client was really worth it. No matter how much an off icer believes in motivational interviewing, being an agent of change for people, and understanding that people making changes are bound to slip up, there is still that frustration because that officer truly wants to see that person succeed. Building upon these stressors are a whole host of other issues that probation and parole officers have to deal with on a daily basis. High caseloads, if not managed efficiently, will become overwhelming, and emergency situations can throw an officer’s whol e day off. Officers experience frustrations with demanding prosecutors, police officers, family members, parole boards, judges, co -workers, and clients. They have to worry about being assaulted and attacked while out in the field visiting offenders at home , work, halfway houses, and treatment facilities. They can never let their guard down because even if they trust that the individual they are meeting with would not hurt them, they always have to keep in the back of their minds that the offender’s family, friends, neighbors, or neighborhood just might. Then there are situations in which officers have to serve warrants on clients, and sometimes emotions start to run high, and a client who has never given an officer a problem will suddenly become argumentativ e, hostile, and resistant. In addition to the stress of fieldwork, is the stress that comes from paperwork, going to court, and testifying at parole or probation revocation hearings in which the probation or parole officer, without a shadow of doubt, kno ws that the offender willfully violated his or her parole or probation. They believe this offender should have his or her supervision revoked, only the judge resentences him or her to additional supervision, or the prosecutor or parole board decides to be lenient and allow a negotiated plea or continued supervised release. On the opposite end of the spectrum, an officer sees that an individual has really been making positive strides towards changing his or her thinking and behavior, and a judge or parole bo ard imposes a consequence that the officer feels is too harsh and will cause that offender’s progress to backslide. These are just a few ways in which probation and parole officers experience stress, and this stress can lead to compassion fatigue, burnou t, and officers developing substance abuse problems or mental health issues if this stress is not appropriately addressed. Probation and parole officers often find it difficult to talk through the stress of the job, both on the job and at home. At work, ev eryone is experiencing the same stress, and they do not have time to work through it effectively, if at all. At home, it is hard because friends and family, unless they are in a criminal justice field themselves, are not really going to be able to fully un derstand what the stress is like. In addition to that, probation and parole officers might not feel comfortable sharing details about particular stressors like arguments with clients or potential budget cuts that could result in layoffs because they do not want to worry their friends and families. The stressors of the job are not at all addressed here to deter you from a career in probation or parole.

Rather, it is important to understand that these stressors will arise and that it is important to be awar e of them and deal with them appropriately so that they do not lead to things like addiction or burnout. The same can be said for all careers within the criminal justice system, because individuals who work in law enforcement, law, and the judiciary experi ence things that are definitely not part of the everyday norm. It is important to have hobbies outside of work that help alleviate stress and have nothing to do with work, and separate personal life from work life so as not to increase stress. Have some fr iends outside of work that do not work in the field and some friends who do, and make sure that you have people in your life that you can talk to about the stress of the job. Seek supervision when you need to, and do not be afraid to ask for assistance wit h cases and clients who might be bringing up some issues that are personal to you or if you find yourself struggling with a client.

Finally, make sure that you can deal with the role ambiguity of the job as probation and parole officers walk a narrow tight rope between counselor and law enforcement. Probation and parole, for individuals who are well suited for the job, are very personally rewarding and enjoyable professions. Probation and parole officers have the opportunity to provide individuals who have made some poor choices in their lives with the skills and resources that they need to improve their lives, modify their thinking and behavior to the expectations of society, and avoid future interactions with the criminal justice system. When probation an d parole officers are successful in assessing risk and needs, making the appropriate referrals, and developing the professional relationship needed to build a BCJ 3150, Probation and Parole 3 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title client’s trust, it is a great feeling to see that individual succeed and successfully complete hi s or her probation or parole term. Suggested Reading In order to access the reso urces below, you must first access the ProQuest Criminal Justice database within the CSU Online Library. This is a great study on probation officer stress and burnout and what can be done to help alleviate stress and help probation officers better cope with their jobs. Lewis, K. R., Lewis, L. S., & Garby, T. M. (2013). Surviving the trenches: The personal i mpact of the job on probation officers. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 38 (1), 67 -84. This brief article on compassion fatigue in corrections applies to probation and parole as well because probation and parole officers work with victims of trauma on a daily basis. Maiden, J. (2014). Compassion fatigue in corrections. American Jails, 28 (2), 35 -36, 38. This National Institute of Justice Office of Justice Programs study discusses probation and parole officer stress and how that stress can affect all areas of the officers’ lives along with what programs can be implemented to reduce stress. National Institute of Justice. (2014, June 5) Stress among probation and parole officers and what can be done about it. Research for Practice. Retrieved from https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/205620.pdf Learning Activities (Non -Graded) View this podcast video, “Parole and Probation Officers –A Day in the Life:” http:/ /media.csosa.gov/podcast/video/2010/05/parole -and -probation -officers/  What do you think would be the most challenging aspect of the job?  How do you feel about balancing the varying roles involved with being a probation or parole officer?  What do you thi nk would be the most rewarding part of the job for you? Non -graded Learning Activities are provided to aid students in their course of study. You do not have to submit them. If you have questions, contact your instructor for further guidance and information.