The Probation System of Georgia - Term Paper Example

? The Probation System of Georgia The Probation System of Georgia Currently in the of Georgia, the Georgia Department of Corrections Probation Operations Units is charged with the responsibility of the supervision of all the convicted adult felons. Well over seventy-six percent of these convicted felons are usually assessed at relatively low risk levels in the process of active supervision. Hence, the offenders monitored by the probation officers require minimum supervision intervention and monitoring. As observed in the past years, the crime rate has increased leading to a consequent upsurge in the number of criminals in the population, in the state of Georgia. This resulted in set up of improved probationer and management responsibilities. Therefore, the probation operations were more successful such that an improvement in case management was observed. Improved case management resulted in supervision that is more efficient from the probation officers in such a way that they did not affect the society in a negative manner. There was also the creation of an environment whereby the departments run by the probation officers are redirected such that the probation officers handle cases of higher risk probationer population. The state of Georgia also developed the Probation Reporting Contact Centre. It was specifically developed to help in the improvement of processes by the probation officers and acted as a reliable source of information and assistance. The Probation Reporting Contact Centre was also observed to offer relief to the probation officers through offering compliance reports and offering routine content. This was made probable by the formation of an Interactive Voice Response system, which handled the automation of notes system documentation and call reception automation. The adoption of this new system also meant that the probation officers received customer support from staff members designated to make live telephone conversations. The Probation Reporting Contact Centre proved to be an efficient and effective way since it offered a low risk operation whereby all stable probationers were in a position to report their residences and at the same time comply with the court order conditions of probation. Through this body, the probation officers were also able to participate in self-improvement programs with translation in better service delivery (Palmer, 2008). The probation officers are responsible for the management of all cases and the decision-making activities pertaining offenders in the state of Georgia. These probation officers are highly qualified in the field of handling cases of delinquency and hence the all the assisting technologies were designed in such a way that all the data concerning patients was delivered to the probation officers in a timely manner electronically. The transmission of patient’s data electronically prepares the probation officers psychologically such that they are able to prepare prior to meeting with the patient. As a result, the tactics and approaches employed by the probation officers are informed as they already have an insight of the case at hand. This increased the effectiveness of the probation programs making the probation system in Georgia robust. The Probation Reporting Contact Centre acts as a very essential reporting tool for the probation officers. This is because this organization was formed and designed in such way that it acts as a positive sanction and supervision tool. The use of this instrument has proven to be very successful in the sense that the community receives safer and faster probationer supervision and compliance. This is evident through instances whereby the probationers are not always required to report to the office to offer their service as a probation officer in person. This in turn translates into the overcoming of many shortcomings posed such as time wastage on the job owning to the wait time in most probation lobbies and childcare expenses. The incorporation of this new technology in probation offices, in Georgia, has greatly reduced occurrences of overcrowding in the offices. A reduction in the crowds leads to a reduced probability of rival gangs meeting in the probation offices. Gangs are known for their use of violence, which mostly results in bloodshed, and loss of life. The new installed system also prevents victims to be exposed to criminals Most of the assaults take a toll on the victims psychologically and hence the victim sight of their offenders may hamper the treatment and mental stability of the victims. Just as is the case with most business, probation offices are strategically situated in central areas of business. The incorporation of the new system has drastically reduced the number of offenders visiting the areas around probation offices as they promote a state of insecurity. A state of insecurity could affect the operation of business neighboring the probation centers (Palmer, 2008). The introduction of the Probation Reporting Contact Centre in the probation system has led to a higher throughput being recorded in the probation system of the state of Georgia. This is due to reason that this new system has enabled the probation officers to handle larger workloads in terms of cases. This also allowed for the allocation of small cases to the local probation officers and hence allowing free probation officers who are ready to handle cases at any given time. The freeing up of the probation officers proved to be of great importance in the sense that experienced probation officers could be redirected to handle high-risk cases and those probationers who are considered high need and required critical priorities. Therefore, all probationers were offered the best services and this increased the probability of a full recovery. The integration of the Probation Reporting Contact Centre has assisted in the making of the work away program a reality in the state of Georgia. This because of the reason that the integration of the new technology in the probation system, in place, made it possible for the probation officers and assistants to operate in full confidence that their operations will not be hampered by the portable technologies. The traditional work or office environment became outdated as majority of the probation officers could work remotely at their own convenience from their homes. This, as a result, proved to be very effective as it resulted in the saving of state resource, which would, redirected to cater for more pressing matters such as realization of development in the state of Georgia (Bosworth, 2005). The state of Georgia became a party in a convention held by the United Nations in a bid to fight for children’s rights. Parts of the requirements were that the state of Georgia develops a juvenile system whose priority was to make certain that the interests of the child were met. The implementation and making of these reforms in the juvenile system of justice was because of a survey conducted by the United Nations committee that handled children’s rights. The implementation of these reforms in the juvenile and justice system of Georgia was one of UNICEF’s top priorities. The governing system of Georgia through its cooperation programs ensured that reforms in the juvenile system were implemented. The sole purpose of the establishment of the juvenile system was to ensure that children who were in different sides with the law were rehabilitated and reintegrated in the society. The new system ensured that children are not criminalized falsely hence, ensuring the implementation of justice in Georgia. This also meant that the personnel handling the children are qualified and experienced in handling cases of children. The penitentiary systems for child offenders in the state of Georgia were also established. The main financiers of the project were the European Union and UNICEF. The establishment of the penitentiary systems improved the juvenile system in Georgia tremendously as a result of the implemented reforms. These child penitentiaries operated in such a way that they were focused on reintegration. Reintegration was through the establishment of reintegration and planning programs that ensured that the child offenders encountered a smooth transition from the penitentiary to the probation systems (Abadinsky, 2003). The reforms in the juvenile system in Georgia meant that there were to be improvements in the penitentiary systems. These improvements were more along the lines of making the system in Georgia child sensitive whereby an environment whereby children’s rights could be met. These rights include education, which is of great significance in determining the future of the child. Reintegration of the children in these facilities made possible through carefully planned programs and children’s activities included the provision of constructive leisure and psychosocial support among others. The reforms made in the probation systems enhanced the collaboration between the probation and the penitentiary systems. To make the collaboration possible both the staff in the penitentiary and the probation systems had to undergo training as reintegration and probation coaches. This training promoted coherence between the two systems translating into better service delivery to the children. In conclusion, in the state of Georgia, the Georgia Department of Corrections Probation Operations Units is responsible for the supervision of all the convicted adult felons. Over seventy-six percent of these convicted felons are usually assessed at relatively low risk levels in the process of active supervision. There has been several improvements in that system. The promotion of public awareness about the juvenile justice policies promoted the legislative amendment in Georgia. Public awareness also means that cases of child delinquency in the state of Georgia are handled effectively as there are experts and professionals availed to the public through the probation system in Georgia. References Abadinsky, H. (2003). Probation and parole: theory and practice (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall. Bosworth, M. (2005). Encyclopedia of prisons & correctional facilities. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications. Palmer, L. J. (2008). Encyclopedia of capital punishment in the United States (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. Read More