Effects of Juvenile Offender PTSD and Expert PTSD Education on Juvenile Probation Officer Disposition Recommendations

Whereas research has shown improvements in decision-making shortly after the introduction of risk/need assessment (RNA) tools, studies of routine practice nonetheless show shortcomings in RNA utilization. The current study uses an experimental survey-based vignette method to assess juvenile probation officer decision-making several years into a sustained evidence-based effort to implement an RNA in Pennsylvania. Consistent with the risk-need-responsivity (RNR) model, results show officer decisions correspond with clients’ risk and need. Moreover, adherence to the RNR model was found for clients across risk levels and offense categories. However, officers often relied on services for low-risk clients, and made decisions about interventions based on offense characteristics. Results suggest a discretionary form of decision-making, taking cues from within and beyond the RNR model, including from punitive and traditional welfare-oriented approaches. Findings highlight the challenges of producing RNR-consistent decision-making, even when using a sustained scientific RNA implementation strategy.

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Motivating compliance: Juvenile probation officer strategies and skills

Journal of Offender Rehabilitation ◽

10.1080/10509674.2016.1257532 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

pp. 20-37 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Katherine Schwartz ◽

Andrew O. Alexander ◽

Katherine S. L. Lau ◽

Evan D. Holloway ◽

Matthew C. Aalsma

Keyword(s):

Probation Officer ◽

Juvenile Probation

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‘Showing one’s card’: Negotiating disclosure through game play in juvenile probation

Text & Talk - An Interdisciplinary Journal of Language Discourse Communication Studies ◽

10.1515/text-2019-2025 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 39 (2) ◽

pp. 213-234

Author(s):

Maureen T. Matarese ◽

Carolus van Nijnatten

Keyword(s):

Social Work ◽

Juvenile Offenders ◽

Personal Information ◽

Frame Analysis ◽

Probation Officer ◽

Probation Officers ◽

Board Game ◽

Juvenile Probation ◽

Insight Into ◽

Forensic Social Work

AbstractCommunication between probation officers and juvenile offenders is essential, clarifying the nature and cause of possible disorders and providing insight into the chances of recidivism and/or recovery. Forensic social work, however, is complicated as it is both oriented toward collecting information for the court (forensic aims) and aimed at helping the juvenile’s improvement (social work aims). This paper examines two unique cases of probation officer-juvenile interaction that utilize a board game intended to foster disclosure. As any disclosure may be used against the juvenile in court, the juvenile must be compliant enough without disclosing too much. Using a combination of frame analysis and discourse analyses of delicacy, we describe how the game is used to encourage disclosure as well as how the game allows juveniles to appear compliant ultimately without disclosing much personal information.

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