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NCJ Number:	185077

Title:	Assessment and Decision-making: Probation Officer's Construing of Factors Relevant to Risk

Journal:	Legal and Criminological Psychology Volume:5 Issue:2 Dated:September 2000 Pages:165-185

Author(s):	Melanie Giles; Judith Mullineux

Date Published:	September 2000

Page Count:	21

Type:	Report (Study/Research)

Format:	Article

Language:	English

Country:	United Kingdom

Annotation:	This article examines probation officers' risk assessment and decision making regarding offenders.

Abstract:	The aim of the study was to use the Repertory Grid technique to explore the construct systems of probation officers, thereby determining what factors were being used in the assessment of offenders. Having elicited this information, the study then attempted to produce and administer a standardized grid to determine the extent to which these criteria were being used to differentiate among treatment options. While there was some degree of commonality in terms of the constructs elicited, recommendations were based almost exclusively on the severity and length of an offender's criminal record. Probation officers were reasonably skilled at differentiating between custody and community service but were less able to differentiate between programs designed for high-risk offenders. Study results suggest that probation officers need some support in assessing offenders and the probation service should adopt a risk assessment instrument to assist in the decision making process. Figures, table, notes, references, appendix

Main Term(s):	Corrections

Index Term(s):	Alternatives to institutionalization; Discretionary decisions; Probation; Probation evaluation; Probation officer attitudes; Probation or parole decisionmaking; Probation or parole officers; Sentencing recommendations; Sentencing/Sanctions



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