Deck 12: Career Pathways in Community Corrections

Question 1

The American Correctional Association recommends that juvenile probation officers receive 40 hours of preservice training.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

In qualified immunity, workers are not liable for wrongdoing when their actions are found to be "objectively reasonable" and within the scope of employment.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Referring offenders to drug and alcohol treatment, anger management classes, parenting classes, and other community-based services is one of the functions of community supervision officers.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

For-profit organizations that contract with the government have been providing services to community corrections organizations since the 1800s.

Question 5

Most of the mandated training hours for probation and parole officers are devoted to controls, restraints, and defensive techniques.

Question 6

Most probation officers in the United States believe that the synthetic officer approach is in fact the most effective.

Question 7

The initial selection of a probation officer may be the result of one of three systems, an appointment system, a merit system, or a combined system.

Question 8

There is a preference for probation officers to have an educational background in the academic fields of either criminal justice or criminology.

Question 9

Jurisdictions where probation is under the judicial branch have tended to strongly support the carrying of firearms.

Question 10

Time-servers see their role as administering a form of treatment, introducing a probationer or parolee to a better way of live, and motivating constructive patterns of behavior.

Question 11

In states that have authorized private probation, most require agencies to sign a formal contract with the government that outlines the scope of services to be provided, the responsibilities of the contractor, and the obligations of the court.

Question 12

The merit system requires that all probation officer applicants are screened through an exam and then selected and appointed by Congress.

Question 13

In supervising juvenile delinquents, younger officers (younger than 35) tended to hold less punitive attitudes than older officers.

Question 14

Convicted felons can serve as probation officers, but not parole officers.

Question 15

All states and the federal system require annual in-service training for all probation officers.

Question 16

Some states allow parole and probation officers to be citizens of other countries.

Question 17

As a result of the American Probation and Parole Association recommendations, probation and parole officers are not required to carry firearms in the performance of duties.

Question 18

Klockars's synthetic officer is distinguished by his or her recognition of the balance between the law enforcement and treatment components of the probation officer's role.

Question 19

Juvenile probation officers often spend more time in training than do adult supervision officers.

Question 20

Those opposed to officers carrying a firearm question whether the threat to probation officers is real or perceived.

Question 21

Probation officers must often be empathetic, understanding, and objective enough to help offenders who have broken the law and at the same time be able to revoke or terminate clients who are not following the conditions of their supervision. This is known as

A) role conflict.
B) role ambiguity.
C) conflict of interest.
D) qualified immunity.

Question 22

Community corrections-based occupations that are more people-centered tend to have higher levels of risk and _______ than jobs that are more data-centered.

A) fulfillment
B) burnout
C) recidivism
D) satisfaction

Question 23

Jurisdictions where probation is under the __________ branch have tended to oppose carrying of firearms.

A) legislative
B) executive
C) judicial
D) corrections

Question 24

_______________ (1972) developed a classic typology of probation supervision officers that designated four basic types: law enforcer, time-server, therapeutic agent, and synthetic officer.

A) Howard Becker
B) Carl Klockars
C) Francis Cullen
D) Gresham Sykes

Question 25

_____ immunity protects government officials from any legal action unless they engage in actions that are intentionally and maliciously wrong.

A) Applied
B) Absolute
C) Vicarious
D) Good-faith

Question 26

When workers are not liable for wrongdoing because their actions are found to be "objectively reasonable" and within the scope of employment, this is known as __________ immunity.

A) qualified
B) absolute
C) vicarious
D) good-faith

Question 27

Probation officers working for government agencies in __________ areas earn higher salaries than other probation officers.

A) suburban
B) rural
C) urban
D) southern

Question 28

If an officer finds out that one of his or her probationers is planning to commit a crime, but does nothing to prevent it, the officer may be found guilty of which of the following?

A) Negligence
B) Abuse
C) Obstruction
D) Conspiracy

Question 29

How does the training of adult probation officers compare to that of those supervising juveniles?

A) Juvenile probation officers must train more because of the unique emotional needs of juveniles.
B) Juvenile probation officers must train more because of changing privacy laws.
C) Juvenile probation officers are typically required to train exactly the same as adult probation officers.
D) Adult probation officers typically require more training.

Question 30

The system of appointing probation officers that was designed to remove public employees from political patronage is the ______ system.

A) appointment
B) merit
C) combined
D) federal

Question 31

Probation officers most in favor of carrying firearms are those supervising

A) gang members and violent offenders.
B) drug users and alcohol abusers.
C) sex offenders.
D) juvenile and status offenders.

Question 32

What is the minimum education requirement for most U.S. probation officers?

A) High school
B) High school and field experience
C) Master's degree
D) Baccalaureate degree

Question 33

Most states require probation officers to complete

A) preservice training only.
B) in-service training only.
C) both preservice and in-service training.
D) no training.

Question 34

In Klockars's typology of probation officer work styles, the officer who sees his or her role as administering a form of treatment is the

A) law enforcer.
B) therapeutic agent.
C) time-server.
D) synthetic officer.

Question 35

Which characteristics best describe those probation officers in favor of carrying firearms while on the job?

A) Young females
B) Older females
C) Older males
D) Young males

Question 36

Which of the following is a source of stress for community supervision officers?

A) Lack of promotional opportunities
B) High caseloads
C) Fear of being sued
D) All of these are correct

Question 37

The task that is most required of state probation officers is

A) supervision.
B) counseling.
C) investigation.
D) maintaining office hours.

Question 38

The basic knowledge, skills, and abilities of probation officers are learned during

A) preservice training.
B) in-service training.
C) college.
D) night classes.

Question 39

In states where officers carry firearms, they must complete which of the following to ensure they are properly trained on the usage of the weapon?

A) Self-defense tactics
B) Peace Officer State Training (POST)
C) SWAT training
D) Intense field training

Question 40

In the ____ system, probation officers are selected by the chief probation officer or by the court(s).

A) appointment
B) merit
C) combined
D) military

Question 41

In addition to educational requirements for officers, some jurisdictions may also require psychological evaluations, weapons qualification, and a __________ test.

Question 42

In contrast with traditional probation in which the court orders the client to report to his or her probation officer after sentencing, private service providers have a representative stationed at the __________ to make initial contact with the client at sentencing.

A) court
B) probation office
C) prosecutor's office
D) police department

Question 43

__________ is the specialized and standardized training that probation/parole or police officers must go through prior to carrying a firearm on the job.

Question 44

Community supervision officers are required to participate in _____, which consists of continuing education training that occurs annually.

Question 45

Klockar's category of probation labeled as ___________ refers to the supervision type that stresses the legal authority and enforcement aspects of the officer role, dictating firmness and obeying the law as essentials.

Question 46

If an officer finds out through credible sources that one of her probationers is planning to commit a crime, and the officer could have prevented it but failed to do so, the officer can be officially charged with ___________.

Question 47

A(n) _____ for probation officers involves a judicial selection committee that selects a chief probation officer who then hires assistant probation officers.

Question 48

Any for-profit or nonprofit private organization that contracts with county-level or state-level government to provide probation supervision, independent probation treatment services, or both probation supervision and treatment under one roof is classified as a

A) nonprofit organization.
B) profit-based business.
C) private service provider.
D) charity.

Question 49

Officers carrying firearms are more likely to experience incidents of _________ than those who do not carry a firearm.

Question 50

Most adult probation officers must have a minimum of a(n) __________ degree.

Question 51

In reference to the King v. Simpson case, the Supreme Court held that the ___________ has absolute immunity in decisions to grant, deny, or revoke parole.

A) parole board
B) probation board
C) judge
D) prosecutor

Question 52

_____ refers to the fact that community supervision officers have discretion and can choose whether to exercise it.

A) Role conflict
B) Immunity
C) Role ambiguity
D) Negligence

Question 53

According to Carl Klockars (1972), most probation officers fit into the __________ officer role.

Question 54

___________ provides the basic knowledge, skills, and abilities that newly hired officers need before they begin working independently.

Question 55

As state and local government look to trim costs in their budgets, they have increasingly turned to ______ companies for a wide array of services, from drug testing to electronic monitoring.

A) public
B) technology
C) psychological
D) private

Question 56

Parole officers who wish to carry firearms must score at least _____% in firearm proficiency.

A) 60
B) 70
C) 80
D) 90

Question 57

Criticisms of privatization of community corrections services by profit-making enterprises include all of the following, except?

A) Provision of effective correctional services seems to be at odds with making a profit.
B) The private sector is usually not equipped to be a full-service provider.
C) Private-sector services have no uniform method of monitoring probation conditions or ensuring that victim restitution is collected.
D) Private-sector services attract better qualified and educated job candidates

Question 58

Research has shown that probation officers who carried a firearm experienced

A) less confrontation incidents.
B) more confrontation incidents.
C) more respect from their probationers.
D) higher job satisfaction.

Question 59

____________ probation agencies contract with the local or state government to assist in providing additional misdemeanor probation supervision.

Question 60

Excessive paperwork, lack of time to accomplish the job, and role ambiguity are three factors that lead to high ____________ in the job of probation and parole officer.

Question 61

What type of degree is generally required for probation and parole officers? Why is this important?

Question 62

You are a union representative for parole and probation officers in your state. There is an enormous amount of stress each employee has to face. Your job is to write a letter to the administration detailing the types of stress that are the most critical to address for the people you represent, why they are so essential to address, and how best to handle the situation.

Question 63

You are an advisor to a U.S. Senator. There has been some intense lobbying on both sides of the private probation issue. One side states that private probation agencies are antidemocratic, while the other holds them up as examples of American ingenuity. Your boss wants you to distill each argument to its essence in a position paper and doesn't want too much "spin." You must also tell the senator where you stand on this issue.

Question 64

In states where probation and parole officers carry a firearm, they must complete training, which is known as _____.

Question 65

Describe and define the types of stress that probation and parole officers endure, and which ones can be controlled by the individual officers themselves.

Question 66

You are a regulator in charge of overseeing and monitoring private companies that administer parole services. What can be done to insure that companies who stand to benefit financially from the privatization of parole do not have too much control over the system itself? ALEC is lobbying to write model legislation that will affect your job. What is its point of view?

Question 67

Private, nonprofit entities have been involved in community supervision of offenders for quite a long time-since the 1800s. In fact, the _____, a long-time community service provider for those in need, especially after natural and man-made disasters, has a long history of providing such supervision services.

Question 68

The American Correctional Association recommends that seasoned officers receive _____ hours per year of in-service training.

Question 69

Define and describe the various types of in-service training and why they are important.

Question 70

You are the head of a company that provides in-service training for probation officers. What services do you currently provide? Is the type of in-service training provided for probation officers enough, in your mind? What can be done to improve it?

Question 71

How can probation and parole officers best protect themselves from civil liability lawsuits while on the job?

Question 72

You are a judge who loves his gun. After a shooting outside of your courtroom, you believe it is necessary to carry it around wherever you go. Antigun lobbies argue that members of the judicial branch should not be able to carry firearms. You also maintain an active blog. Address the concerns of the antigun lobbyists point by point and refute their opinion with measured logic and facts.

Question 73

In what ways, if any, should private probation supervision and treatment be expanded? In what ways, if any, should they be limited? Fully explain your position.

Question 74

Elaborate on the arguments for and against probation and parole officers carrying weapons.