Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Olivia Yu

Abstract

Community supervision, commonly referred to as probation, is an alternative to jail and prison sentences which allow offenders to serve court-imposed sanctions in the community. The present study stemmed from Klockars’s theory of probation supervision which contains two concepts, (a) the organizational structure of probation, which has been studied repeatedly, and (b) the exchange strategy between the officer and client. The second concept has not been adequately explored. Previous literature has explored the perception that probation officers have of their clients. However, no study has explored the perception that clients have of their probation officers. The purpose of this study was to explore the client’s perception of the probation officer and their working relationship. Homans and Blau’s social exchange theory was used for this study. Using a phenomenological qualitative approach, 11 participants were interviewed as to how clients perceived their probation officers during the working relationship, how the perception changed over time, and the impact officers had on their future. Findings suggested that clients entered the relationship with a sense of uneasiness, fear, and uncertainty, but as the relationship continued, clients experienced a positive change in comfort level. Additionally, clients did not perceive that the officer-client relationship deterred them from future criminal activity. There are positive social change implications resulting from this study. This study demonstrated the need for continued community support for agencies, officers, training, and the services they offer. Probation agencies, supervisors, and entry level officers may benefit from this study when assessing the risks and needs of their clients and assisting them throughout the probation process.

Download

Share

 
COinS