ABSTRACT
What You Need to Know
■ In 2014, probation handled more than 350,000 youths who were processed in some way for delinquency or a status offense by the juvenile court.
■ In juvenile court, the probation presentence investigation may be called a social history investigation or a predisposition report.
■ “Aftercare” is the juvenile court term for parole.
■ One current approach in juvenile community corrections is the balanced approach, which attempts to balance offender accountability, competency development, and community safety.
■ Police–probation partnerships, including searches of the offender’s residence, are an example of a tough approach to juvenile probation.
■ Other recent approaches in juvenile probation include restorative justice, peacemaking, and community justice.
■ A number of treatment interventions are effective, including cognitive–behavioral and social learning programs.
■ Some current concerns about juvenile probation include the problems of goal confusion and some aspects of both restitution and community service. Project HOPE, emphasizing swift and certain sanctions, has been tried with adult probationers, but it is questionable if such a deterrence model is suitable for juveniles on probation.
■ Probation managers must attempt to implement programs that are effective in a variety of ways, including reducing recidivism, meeting offender needs, and satisfying the public.
