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QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN PROBATION - A MISSING INGREDIENT

NCJ Number
35482
Journal
Juvenile Justice Volume: 27 Issue: 2 Dated: (MAY 1976) Pages: 29-34
Author(s)
M G HAWKINS
Date Published
1976
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHOR ARGUES THAT THE FAILURES OF PROBATION ARE LARGELY DUE TO POOR MANAGEMENT, AND ADDRESSES THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM OF CASELOAD MANAGEMENT TO ILLUSTRATE HOW EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES MAY APPLY TO PROBATION.
Abstract
THE TWO PRIMARY REASONS WHY PROBATION HAS FAILED TO LIVE UP TO ITS POTENTIAL, THE AUTHOR MAINTAINS, ARE POOR MANAGEMENT AND THE POLITICAL PATRONAGE SYSTEM. IT IS STATED THAT THE ROLE OF THE GOOD MANAGER IS TO ASSESS AVAILABLE RESOURCES, APPLY RESOURCES EFFECTIVELY, EVALUATE HOW THESE FUNCTIONS ARE BEING PERFORMED, AND TO USE EVALUATION TO IMPROVE OPERATIONS. TO ILLUSTRATE THIS MANAGEMENT PROCESS, THE AUTHOR EXAMINES THE PROBLEM OF HIGH PROBATION CASELOADS. FACTORS AFFECTING CASELOAD SIZE ARE THEN OUTLINED, AND THE BENEFITS AND DANGERS OF MANIPULATING THESE FACTORS TO REDUCE CASELOAD SIZE ARE DISCUSSED. IT IS PROPOSED THAT MANIPULATION OF THE LENGTH OF PROBATION SUPERVISION IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO CONTROL CASELOAD SIZE. SEVERAL MATHEMATICAL FORMULAS ARE OFFERED TO DEMONSTRATE THE EFFECTS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF MANIPULATING THAT VARIABLE. IN ADDITION, IT IS ARGUED THAT DECREASING THE LENGTH OF PROBATION SUPERVISION WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO PROBATIONERS. THE AUTHOR ALSO SUGGESTS THAT CASELOAD SIZE MAY BE REDUCED BY ENCOURAGING USE OF ALTERNATIVES SUCH AS JUDICIAL REPRIMANDS AND BY QUICKLY DISCHARGING FROM PROBATION THOSE WHO NO LONGER HAVE NEED OF PROBATION SERVICES.

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