History and Evolution of Probation and Classification Supervision Techniques

Probation originated from ancient times in England and the United States, it was devised so that they could avoid the mechanical application of the harsh penal codes of the day. Early criminal law of the British that was practicing much of the objectives of retribution as well as punishment imposed on the offenders severe and rigid penalties. The punishment which was common was corporal such as flogging, branding, mutilation and execution. Philanthropists and volunteers proved to be instrumental in the development and acceptance of probation in practice prior to probation being made into law.

There is need for identifying a probationer's risks and needs. Risk assessment gives a measure of the probationer or parolee's level of danger to the public and at the same time it measures propensity of the offenders to get involved in the criminal activities of the future. Parole and probation jurisdiction have developed some aspects of risk prediction scale that are helping them to develop supervision plans as well as in classification of caseload. Even though such instruments tend to be different in some ways, they all place offenders in groups with a statistical probability of committing fresh crimes which are known or violation supervision conditions. As noted in the UC-Irvine Center for Evidence-Based Practices website (Joan Petersilila, and Richard Rosenfeld, 2007) need and risk assessment is among several techniques of evidence-based practices, such as motivational interviewing, case planning, principle of correctional intervention and cognitive-behavioral treatment.

There are different generational assessments which exist. The first generation assessment revolved around having interview with the offender then using case-by-case anecdotal information to make decision. Because of much criticism to the first generation many kinds of assessment tools were later developed having some being much sophisticated as compared to others. The second generations majorly use questions over the previous behavior which had happened and cannot be changed. The third generation which is the most recent one incorporates both static and dynamic factors that help in measuring the negative as well as positive offender change over time. They include; the Level of Service Inventory- Revised (LSI-R) and the Offender Inventory Assessment (OIA).

On the part of probationer's need, it is important for their treatment needs to be identified. The officer is supposed to identify conditions, characteristics or behavioral problems that are limiting the motivation of the offenders or may result in the repeat of the criminal behavior, Taxman, F.S, Simpson, S. & Piquero, N.L. (2002). Examples of the treatment needs are mental illness, drug or alcohol abuse, anger management issues, or deficiency in vocal skills or education.

There are different types of Treatment intervention for these people; for example, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is an effective method of helping a person change. It is always a blend of two kinds of therapies; behavioral change that condition the body and cognitive therapy that prepares the mind. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy help in overcoming phobias, stop habitual behaviors like, drinking, drug use or smoking and to change the pattern of the old ways of thinking like the ones connected to crimes.

Another treatment intervention is motivational interviewing. Looking at the change of offender in a different manner could be an assert-building or strength-based approach that rewards offenders with written or oral praise which can be vouchers with small monetary rewards, certificates of completion or privileges which are special that encourage a given positive behavior.

Employment assistance is another way of treatment intervention to the probationers. The most important element of preventing recidivism for probationers and parolees is employment as indicated by Petersilia, (2003). The employment will provide financial support for the offenders as well as the family and at the same time it establish and maintain self-esteem for the offenders as well as personal dignity which are qualities that are viewed by many of the authority as important to successful reintegration into the community.

Another important form of treatment intervention is appealing to informal social control. Some of the informal social controls like community agencies and family membership tend to be essential resources that help probationers to develop good social behaviors. This technique is being used by neighborhood-based supervision to help in supervision.

Supervision is part of the process that is very essential to a probationer. Neighborhood-based probation supervision and PC supervision are always meant for changing the operation and accountability so that probation becomes a more respected and a highly visible part of the correction system. In traditional supervision a probation officer is always assigned and at the same time the probationer reports on a consistent basis like weekly, monthly depending on the way he or she is required to do so. Probationer who was supervised in the NBS program perceived a lot of assistance from their probation officer in searching for employment as well as establishing connections to treatment providers as compared to probationers that were supervised on traditional caseloads, Lutze Smith and Lovrich (2004). NBS and PCS officers had more autonomy as well as a closer connection with community and the police as compared to traditional probation officers, though their relationship with treatment service providers tend to be the same for all the groups. Probationers of NBS were more possibly to be violated for technical violations as compared to traditional probationers, however all the groups were involved in the same number of the new crimes during supervision.