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Early scholarship on community corrections officers suggested that officers' perceptions of their professional role influences how they carry out supervision. While some research has supported this contention, the studies examining the relationship have provided minimal attention to juvenile probation and parole, rarely considered actual as well as intended supervision behaviors, and analyzed samples with limited generalizability. The present study sought to fill this gap. Data were collected through the use of an online questionnaire from a sample of juvenile and adult probation and parole officers employed in seven different agencies in five states during spring 2015. The study found client type to be a significant predictor of both officer actual and intended behaviors, with juvenile PPOs preferring more frequent surveillance techniques and less frequent rewards for probationer progress toward goals. Professional orientation was also a significant predict of both types of behavior. Implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

American jails process millions of bookings each year, and prior research has documented high rates of mental and physical ailments among people held in jails. The existing literature, however, provides only minimal insight into the occurrence of multiple health conditions. This study sought to estimate the prevalence of physical and mental health multimorbidity among people held in jails in the United States. Using a nationally representative sample of responses to the National Inmate Survey, 2011–2012 (N = 5,494), we analyzed reports of physical health conditions, mental health conditions, and disabilities among people in local jails. Prevalence of two or more conditions was 28.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 27.3%, 29.7%) for mental health, 55.5% (95% CI = 54.2%, 56.8%) for physical health, and 15.5% (95% CI = 14.6%, 16.5%) for disabilities. At least one condition across all three health domains was estimated at 29.4% (95% CI = 28.2%, 30.6%). Prevalence of two or more co-occurring conditions without regard for domain was 76.9% (95% CI = 75.8%, 78.0%). Rates were consistently higher among women than among men. Jailed people show a high rate of co-occurring mental and physical health conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite their significance in criminal legal processing, American jails have a reputation for physical and operational deficiencies, with few aspirations beyond mere custody. To examine the possibilities for United States (U.S.) jails' progress, we assess the priorities of U.S. jail leaders, their expectations about achieving reforms, and perceived obstacles regarding change. Our analysis showed that while jail command staff embrace custody, they also endorse social service functions of jails, favor facilities that are safe and clean, support a professional workforce, accept other progressive features of jails, and reject punishment and brutality. They recognize impediments to progress, but are optimistic about potential improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite fundamental distinctions between the ideals of juvenile and criminal justice, little research has sought to establish the extent to which juvenile probation and parole officers' orientations differ from those of their adult counterparts. Further, of the few studies that have explored this area of study, none have examined the role that organizational context may play in predicting professional orientation. Thus, this study aims to fill the gap in the literature by utilizing a sample of probation and parole officers drawn from three different types of agencies: juvenile-only supervision, adult-only supervision, and combined supervision. The results show that the system within which officers work is associated with professional orientation. Distinctions, however, are not as large or consistent as would be expected from strict adherence to the traditional ideals of the juvenile justice system versus the criminal justice system. The implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 1990s saw concerted legislative efforts to increase the mechanisms through which juveniles could be transferred to the adult court. Beginning research exists on how the public feels about transferring youths out of the juvenile justice system, but it is somewhat dated and does little to illuminate the reasons people support transfer. Using a statewide sample and factorial survey design, this study assesses how public views are related to multiple factors, including offense and offender characteristics, views on the appropriate aims of juvenile sentencing, perceptions of juvenile maturity, and expectations about the results of transferring juvenile cases to the adult criminal justice system. Our findings suggest that people want transfer used sparingly and selectively and that support is greatest when they believe that the adult system can provide effective rehabilitation as well as punishment. Implications are discussed. (Contains 6 tables and 6 notes.)

Despite the widespread use of probation in the United States, little is known about how offenders perceive this sentence or the officers who provide their supervision. The present research measures and evaluates perceptions of the probation process, specifically probationers' perception of their probationer officer, and examines characteristics associated with these perceptions. The sample consisted of 347 probationers drawn from a large urban county office. A self-administered survey was utilized to reveal probationers' views of their probation officer. Overall, the probationers expressed positive feelings regarding their probation officers. They were fairly satisfied, and a majority of probationers felt officers were fair, competent, helpful, and clear. Perceptions were more positive among clients who were supervised by an officer of their own race. (Contains 3 tables and 5 notes.)

Previous research has demonstrated that judicial instructions on the law are not well understood by jurors tasked with applying the law to the facts of a case. The past research has also shown that jurors are often confused by the instructions used in the sentencing phase of a capital trial. The current research tested the effectiveness of a "debunking" approach to improving juror misunderstanding associated with capital sentencing instructions. Participants were randomly assigned to hear either Florida's pattern instructions used in the penalty phase of a capital trial or the same instructions with additional statements that mentioned and refuted misconceptions thought to be associated with established areas of miscomprehension. After participants heard the judicial instructions, their understanding of the law on capital punishment decision making was assessed. The results revealed that comprehension was higher for participants exposed to the bias-refutation statements than for participants who were exposed to only the pattern instructions. (Contains 2 tables and 1 note.)

Jail crowding is a substantial concern for many local jurisdictions. Although several authors have suggested a system-wide approach to reduce crowding, relatively little is known about how top local criminal justice officials view this issue. Using interviews and surveys of criminal justice leaders in a large southern metropolitan county, this study examined perspectives on jail crowding and perceived interagency relationships. Consistent with prior studies, the respondents agreed that jail crowding is a problem and that the consequences of crowding extend beyond the correctional facility. Greater discord was observed on issues of agency responsibility for changing policies to effect reductions in crowding. Findings are interpreted within the context of a "loose coupling" framework of criminal justice organizations. (Contains 5 tables and 6 notes.)

Examines a program with typical failure rates for chronic drunk driver treatment, and identifies factors associated with client success. Results indicate that socioeconomic status, criminality, and time-at-risk predict client success following treatment. Staff prognosis, maturity, child abuse, and other conditions do not predict success. (RJM)

Beyond considerations of relative punitiveness, very little is known about how offenders understand the experience of serving a probation sentence. The current study surveyed offenders currently on probation to assess the extent to which they believed their sentence was rehabilitative, incapacitative, deserved, and a deterrent to future offending. Perceptions that probation served no purpose and that it represented a game of manipulation and impression management were also investigated. The results showed that most probationers believed that their sentence was a deterrent, and it was rehabilitative and deserved. They also felt that probation served multiple purposes, and a minority of respondents perceived that there was no point to being on probation. The implications of these findings are discussed. Keywords: probation; correctional goals

In light of President Bush's enthusiastic support and numerous initiatives, there is a growing call to fund 'faith-based' social service programs, including those focused on juvenile and adult offenders. These programs are controversial because they seek to reconfigure the line separating church and state. Based on a national 2001 survey of 327 respondents, we assessed public support for this policy initiative. The major findings were: (1) the respondents were divided evenly on whether the government should fund faith-based correctional programs; (2) a clear majority opposed having a religious content to the programs: (3) most opposed discrimination on religious grounds in the hiring of program staff; (4) a clear majority favored funding all religious groups as opposed to only 'Christian churches'; and (5) the respondents did not view faith-based programs as more, or less, effective than traditional correctional rehabilitation programs. The study also explored the policy implications of these findings. doi: 10.1300/J076v45n03_02 KEYWORDS Faith-based programs, religion and crime, rehabilitation, correctional policy, public opinion

This article discusses the methods of protective behavior employed by citizens to avoid victimization by drunk drivers. Researchers sought to determine if the psychological sources of protective behaviors reflect collective security or fear/victimization models.