Investigating probation strategies with juvenile offenders: the influence of officers' attitudes and youth characteristics.
Probation officers are the focal point for most interventions with delinquent youths in the juvenile justice system. The present study examines probation strategies and interventions in a sample of 308 probation officers who completed the Probation Practices Assessment Survey (PPAS) in a web-based survey. The PPAS measures six probation approaches: deterrence, restorative justice, treatment, confrontation, counseling, and behavioral tactics. Structural equation models and latent class analyses showed that probation officers use multiple approaches with delinquent youths consistent with the balanced and restorative justice movement. Younger youths, high-risk youths, and youths with prior social service involvements are likely to receive more intensive interventions. The implications of these findings for improving probation practices with delinquent youth are discussed.
Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY 10027, USA. css2109@columbia.edu
Craig S
CS
Schwalbe
Tina
T
Maschi
D000293:Adolescent; D001290:Attitude; D019090:Case Management / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D003625:Data Collection; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D035846:Law Enforcement / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D016495:Police; D011678:Punishment; D012941:Social Responsibility; D012947:Social Work / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012951:Socialization; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States