This can be a huge issue for a probation officer. Where does your case load get capped at? How many people are you going to be required to supervise? I don't know if the general public realizes that in a probation department for a large city, the average PO case load may exceed 100 people. There are only 160 work hours in a month. So that leaves 1.6 hours per person, assuming no one is currently in custody. Then account for meetings (which management loves to have), monthly reports, probation violation reports, teaching classes, facilitating group sessions, Court appearances, etc. This doesn't account for any off time for the PO - sick time, vacation, etc. So that may well cut it down to one hour per person. I usually schedule 30 minutes for an appointment with a probationer. I usually use that full 30 minutes with them with a little run over time. Then I have to do the associated paperwork for that meeting. This may include more than just writing up the notes for the visit. It may have to be applied to how the visit met the needs of their supervision plan or other agency specific tracking requirements. If that person is in custody, a visit may be required which will include transit time to wherever they are being held.
A lot a expectation for supervision. This definitely detracts from the quality of supervision. Where in this time frame can you do research to verify the information the probationer is giving you? An more importantly, where do you find the time to conduct field visits. Scheduled visits make the time management easier, but that does defeat the purpose of a compliance check.
The system, both adult and juvenile, is not set up for the number of people that we are expected to supervise. Budget of both time and money is always an issue.
P.O. Doe
#probation
#probationuncovered
No comments:
Post a Comment