Study Finds Probation Officers With Social Work Backgrounds Have Lower Violation Rates

Research in criminology indicates positive influence of supportive, rehabilitative (vs punitive/public safety) demeanor and approach on completion of court supervision and lower recidivism. Our statistics in our Street Outreach Court Detroit and Functional Sentencing projects bear similar findings.

So we looked at data from 3 circuits courts and found that _probation officers with psychology or social work backgrounds have lower probationer violation rates_.

We aim for this study to prompt the Michigan Supreme Court and Department of Corrections to conduct a statewide study so that hiring policies going forward capitalize on the societal benefits of supportive, rehabilitative approaches to probation.