An Examination of Probation Officer Tasks by Officer-Caseload Type

2020 ◽  
pp. 088740342098082
Author(s):  
Kelli D. Martin ◽  
Haley R. Zettler

Prior research regarding probation officer roles and tasks has included statutory analyses, time studies, and computation of daily tasks in relation to risk level of offenders. However, there is limited research investigating specific proportions of probation officer tasks by officer caseload type. The current study builds on existing literature by providing an initial investigation into the daily tasks of adult probation officers of a medium-sized, tri-county probation department in a Southwestern state. For all officers, only 26% of tasks involved face-to-face contact with probationers. While regular caseload officers had the largest caseloads, specialized officers were more likely to supervise high-risk individuals. Court officers had the lowest proportion of face-to-face contact with probationers among the three groups. There were some significant differences in tasks observed between specialized and court officers and no statistically significant differences between regular officers and specialized officers. Recommendations for changes in probation practice are provided.

Coronaviruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 01 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olanrewaju Samson Olaitan ◽  
Olowoporoku Oluwaseun

Background: It is against the background of the emerging incidence of coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, and the need for its management that this study adapts gravity model for predicting the risk of the disease across states of the country. Methods: The paper relied on published government data on population, and gross domestic product, while the distance of town to the nearest international airport was also obtained. These data were log transformed and further used in the calculation of gravity scores for each state of the federation. Results: The study discovered that with the gravity score ranging from 2.942 to 4.437, all the states of the federation have the risk of being infected with the pandemic. Meanwhile Ogun State (4.837) has a very high risk of being infected with the disease. Other states with high risks are Oyo (4.312), Jigawa (4.235), Niger (4.148) and Katsina (4.083). However, Taraba State has the least infection risk of the pandemic in Nigeria. Factors influencing the risk level of the pandemic are proximity, porous boundary between states, and elitism. Conclusion: The paper advocates border settlement planning, review of housing standards, and advocacy for sanitation in different states. It therefore concludes that adequate urban planning in unison with economic and epidemiology techniques will provide a strong strategy for the management of the disease.


2002 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Mueller ◽  
John C. Anderson

An auditor generating potential explanations for an unusual variance in analytical review may utilize a decision aid, which provides many explanations. However, circumstances of budgetary constraints and limited cognitive load deter an auditor from using a lengthy list of explanations in an information search. A two-way between-subjects design was created to investigate the effects of two complementary approaches to trimming down the lengthy list on the number of remaining explanations carried forward into an information search. These two approaches, which represent the same goal (reducing the list) but framed differently, are found to result in a significantly different number of remaining explanations, in both low- and high-risk audit environments. The results of the study suggest that the extent to which an auditor narrows the lengthy list of explanations is important to the implementation of decision aids in analytical review.


Author(s):  
Olivier Nsekuye ◽  
Edson Rwagasore ◽  
Marie Aime Muhimpundu ◽  
Ziad El-Khatib ◽  
Daniel Ntabanganyimana ◽  
...  

We reported the findings of the first Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) four clusters identified in Rwanda. Case-investigations included contact elicitation, testing, and isolation/quarantine of confirmed cases. Socio-demographic and clinical data on cases and contacts were collected. A confirmed case was a person with laboratory confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PCR) while a contact was any person who had contact with a SARS-CoV-2 confirmed case within 72 h prior, to 14 days after symptom onset; or 14 days before collection of the laboratory-positive sample for asymptomatic cases. High risk contacts were those who had come into unprotected face-to-face contact or had been in a closed environment with a SARS-CoV-2 case for >15 min. Forty cases were reported from four clusters by 22 April 2020, accounting for 61% of locally transmitted cases within six weeks. Clusters A, B, C and D were associated with two nightclubs, one house party, and different families or households living in the same compound (multi-family dwelling). Thirty-six of the 1035 contacts tested were positive (secondary attack rate: 3.5%). Positivity rates were highest among the high-risk contacts compared to low-risk contacts (10% vs. 2.2%). Index cases in three of the clusters were imported through international travelling. Fifteen of the 40 cases (38%) were asymptomatic while 13/25 (52%) and 8/25 (32%) of symptomatic cases had a cough and fever respectively. Gatherings in closed spaces were the main early drivers of transmission. Systematic case-investigations contact tracing and testing likely contributed to the early containment of SARS-CoV-2 in Rwanda.


2021 ◽  
pp. 026455052110508
Author(s):  
Annelies Sturm ◽  
Sylvana Robbers ◽  
Renée Henskens ◽  
Vivienne de Vogel

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, online supervision has increased markedly, including within the Dutch probation services. In the present research, we systematically collected and analysed both clients and probation officers’ experiences of working online in the prior year. Although the clients were generally positive about remote supervision, some expressed that they missed the personal contact. According to most of the probation officers, remote working is flexible (efficient, saves time, travel costs), appropriate for certain phases of the probation process (especially at a later stage when a working alliance has been established) and particularly suitable for probationers with mild problems and low risk profiles. The general experience was that conversations are both more pragmatic and business-like, which, in turn, can produce both strengths and limitations. Once a foundation has been established, it appears to be possible to continue working remotely with clients, albeit the probation officers stressed that this depended on the type of client, type of offence and risk level.


2021 ◽  
pp. 026455052110415
Author(s):  
Ebony Ruhland ◽  
Esther Scheibler

Probation is a sentence served in the community and includes a number of supervision conditions. If the conditions are violated, individuals could receive a sanction, including revocation. Not every violation, however, may receive a consequence. Probation officers have discretion for how they manage individuals on the caseloads. This study used qualitative data from two departments in a MidWest state in the United States, one rural and one urban, to explore officer decision-making in supervision. It is critical to examine these factors due to the high number of individuals revoked from probation each year. The study findings illustrate the factors officers use in monitoring conditions, as well as in violations and revocations.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Ayat Masaoud ◽  
Amal A. Hussein ◽  
Eman R. Ahmad

Background and objective: Complications during pregnancy and labour increase the risk of perinatal mortality fivefold which in turn has a negative effect on the neonate. Despite several studies have examined the determinants of neonatal mortality, limited studies have explored neonatal danger signs which potentially cause morbidity. This study aimed to assess danger signs observed in neonates at the different times so early, early, and late to identify associated factors with neonatal danger signs \& to determine the relationship between danger signs at different times and maternal danger signs/complications of high risk mothers.Subjects & Method: Setting: This study was conducted in the Obstetrics Department at Women's Health Center, Assiut University Hospital, Egypt. Sample: A total of 150 postpartum women and their delivered newborns were included and completed the questionnaire from April to the end of July 2017. Design: A descriptive correlational research design was utilized in this study in which structured interviewer managed questionnaire using face-to-face used to collect data.Results: The present findings revealed that nearly three-quarters (75.3%) and more than two-thirds (67.3%) of the total sample complained of antenatal & postnatal danger signs respectively and consequently the majority (80%) of their neonates had so early neonatal danger signs/complications with a most frequent one in the form of neonatal jaundice. A positive significant correlation was apparent between so early & early neonatal danger signs and maternal antenatal and postpartum danger signs. Educational level, maternal age, occupation & parity were considered significant factors affected neonatal danger signs.Conclusions: A highly percentage of neonates were born with so early danger signs. Maternal factors can be used to predict neonatal health condition at birth and 7th days postpartum with marked decline at 28th day postpartum.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marwa Maweya Abdelbagi Elbasheer ◽  
Ayah Galal Abdelrahman Alkhidir ◽  
Siham Mohammed Awad Mohammed ◽  
Areej Abuelgasim Hassan Abbas ◽  
Aisha Osman Mohamed ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundBreast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among females worldwide including Sudan. The aim of this study was to determine the spatial distribution of breast cancer in Sudan.Materials and methodsA facility based cross-sectional study was implemented in eighteen histopathology laboratories distributed in the three localities of Khartoum State on a sample of 4630 Breast Cancer cases diagnosed during the period 2010-2016. A master database was developed through Epi Info™ 7.1.5.2 for computerizing the data collected: the facility name, type (public or private), and its geo- location (latitude and longitude). Personal data on patients were extracted from their respective medical records (name, age, marital status, ethnic group, State, locality, administrative unit, permanent address and phone number, histopathology diagnosis). The data was summarized through SPSS to generate frequency tables for estimating prevalence and the geographical information system (ArcGIS 10.3) was used to generate the epidemiological distribution maps. ArcGIS 10.3 spatial analysis features were used to develop risk maps based on the kriging method.ResultsBreast cancer prevalence was 3.9 cases per 100,000 female populations. Of the 4423 cases of breast cancer, invasive breast carcinoma of no special type (NST) was the most frequent (79.5%, 3517/4423) histopathological diagnosis. The spatial analysis indicated as high risk areas for breast cancer in Sudan the States of Nile River, Northern, Red Sea, White Nile, Northern and Southern Kordofan.ConclusionsThe attempt to develop a predictive map of breast cancer in Sudan revealed three levels of risk areas (risk, intermediate and high risk areas); regardless the risk level, appropriate preventive and curative health interventions with full support from decision makers are urgently needed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabbi Frith ◽  
Kathryn Carver ◽  
Sarah Curry ◽  
Alan Darby ◽  
Anna Sydes ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Restrictions on face-to-face contact, due to COVID-19, led to a rapid adoption of technology to remotely deliver cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Some technologies, including Active+me, were used without knowing their benefits. We assessed changes in patient activation measure (PAM) in patients participating in routine CR, using Active+me. We also investigated changes in PAM among low, moderate, and high risk patients, changes in cardiovascular risk factors, and explored patient and healthcare professional experiences of using Active+me. Methods Patients received standard CR education and an exercise prescription. Active+me was used to monitor patient health, progress towards goals, and provide additional lifestyle support. Patients accessed Active+me through a smart-device application which synchronised to telemetry enabled scales, blood pressure monitors, pulse oximeter, and activity trackers. Changes in PAM score following CR were calculated. Sub-group analysis was conducted on patients at high, moderate, and low risk of exercise induced cardiovascular events. Qualitative interviews explored the acceptability of Active+me. Results Forty-six patients were recruited (Age: 60.4 ± 10.9 years; BMI: 27.9 ± 5.0 kg.m2; 78.3% male). PAM scores increased from 65.5 (range: 51.0 to 100.0) to 70.2 (range: 40.7 to 100.0; P = 0.039). PAM scores of high risk patients increased from 61.9 (range: 53.0 to 91.0) to 75.0 (range: 58.1 to 100.0; P = 0.044). The PAM scores of moderate and low risk patients did not change. Resting systolic blood pressure decreased from 125 mmHg (95% CI: 120 to 130 mmHg) to 119 mmHg (95% CI: 115 to 122 mmHg; P = 0.023) and waist circumference measurements decreased from 92.8 cm (95% CI: 82.6 to 102.9 cm) to 85.3 cm (95% CI 79.1 to 96.2 cm; P = 0.026). Self-reported physical activity levels increased from 1557.5 MET-minutes (range: 245.0 to 5355.0 MET-minutes) to 3363.2 MET-minutes (range: 105.0 to 12,360.0 MET-minutes; P < 0.001). Active+me was acceptable to patients and healthcare professionals. Conclusion Participation in standard CR, with Active+me, is associated with increased patient skill, knowledge, and confidence to manage their condition. Active+me may be an appropriate platform to support CR delivery when patients cannot be seen face-to-face. Trial registration As this was not a clinical trial, the study was not registered in a trial registry.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Gerri ◽  
Ahmed Shokry ◽  
Enrico Zio ◽  
Marco Montini

Abstract Hydrates formation in subsea pipelines is one of the main reliability concerns for flow assurance engineers. A fast and reliable assessment of the Cool-Down Time (CDT), the period between a shut-down event and possible hydrates formation in the asset, is of key importance for the safety of operations. Existing methods for the CDT prediction are highly dependent on the use of very complex physics-based models that demand large computational time, which hinders their usage in an online environment. Therefore, this work presents a novel methodology for the development of surrogate models that predict, in a fast and accurate way, the CDT in subsea pipelines after unplanned shutdowns. The proposed methodology is, innovatively, tailored on the basis of reliability perspective, by treating the CDT as a risk index, where a critic CDT threshold (i.e. the minimum time needed by the operator to preserve the line from hydrates formation) is considered to distinguish the simulation outputs into high-risk and low-risk domains. The methodology relies on the development of a hybrid Machine Learning (ML) based model using datasets generated through complex physics-based model’ simulations. The hybrid ML-based model consists of a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier that assigns a risk level (high or low) to the measured operating condition of the asset, and two Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) for predicting the CDT at the high-risk (low CDT) or the low-risk (high CDT) operating conditions previously assigned by the classifier. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is validated by its application to a case study involving a pipeline in an offshore western African asset, modelled by a transient physics-based commercial software. The results show outperformance of the capabilities of the proposed hybrid ML-based model (i.e., SVM + 2 ANNs) compared to the classical approach (i.e. modelling the entire system with one global ANN) in terms of enhancing the prediction of the CDT during the high-risk conditions of the asset. This behaviour is confirmed applying the novel methodology to training datasets of different size. In fact, the high-risk Normalized Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE) is reduced on average of 15% compared to the NRMSE of a global ANN model. Moreover, it’s shown that high-risk CDT are better predicted by the hybrid model even if the critic CDT, which divides the simulation outputs in high-risk and low-risk values (i.e. the minimum time needed by the operator to preserve the line from hydrates formation), changes. The enhancement, in this case, is on average of 14.6%. Eventually, results show how the novel methodology cuts down by more than one hundred seventy-eight times the computational times for online CDT predictions compared to the physics-based model.


Author(s):  
Fil J. Arenas ◽  
Daniel A. Connelly

This chapter sets out by defining conviviality in a way that allows the term to be simultaneously applied to face-to-face and virtual experiences. The educational context is introduced as one of many that can benefit from both types of experience. Impairment of the components of a shared learning experience (self, others, teacher) does not have to occur if educators understand the unique combination produced by the content to be learned plus the markers of the type of learning experience selected. Matching the content to the medium produces the optimal results. The authors conclude that conviviality in a specific application is not only possible, but potentially highly productive in cyberspace, minimizing the logistical, high-risk, and cognitive constraints identified by Calandra and Puvirajah that can impair other forms of communication and specifically non-cyber learning experiences. This chapter contributes to new era of human interaction literature in the age of virtuality.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document