The Future of Probation

pro·ba·tion-

the release of an offender from detention, subject to a period of good behavior under supervision.

pro·ba·tion of·fi·cer-

a person appointed to supervise offenders who are on probation.

I felt the need to post the definitions of probation and probation officers because I don’t think those definitions do those terms justice. While yes, probation is the release of an offender who gets placed under supervision I think it is missing a key part. If I were to define probation it would be, when an offender is placed under the care of a supervisor to be helped and taught life changing skills. For the definition of a probation officer mine would be, a person who supervises and helps offenders who are on probation try and change their lives. My definitions might be very different from others, but they make all the difference in the world as to why I want this to be my profession



In this role my first and foremost job is to help the people I come in contact with better their lives and make a change. If I can help people get back on their feet, deter them from committing future crimes and teach them skills that they can use throughout their lives I have truly done my job. While not every person I come in contact with may want to make that change, there are those that really want to better their lives. 



I titled this blog post The Future of Probation because I see myself as part of the change this system needs. After learning so much from TCRIM 375 I plan to take this knowledge and help the men in the probation system. I have a better understanding for the motives and reasons behind the way that some men are and I have a better understanding of what I can do break those barriers.

  

Finally, thanks to all those who read and commented on my blog. Your thoughts and comments did not go to waste, I appreciate every single one of them. Thank you! :)

The Positive Effects of Masculinity in Probation

It is another post about masculinity and how it relates to probation. In a previous blog post I discussed how toxic masculinity affects the men on probation and the outcomes of their probation. In this blog post, I want to be a little more generic and discuss masculinity and the overall effect on probation. While I say this is another post about masculinity, I feel that is a good thing! This is a never ending conversation about how hegemonic masculinity is sinking its teeth into the world around us, especially in the probation system.

As we have learned in the four very short weeks of this class not all masculine traits and displays of those traits are bad, some can be viewed in a positive light! I never got the chance to discuss how masculinity could be potentially beneficial to those males on probation.

For me a very apparent trait of masculinity is stubbornness or determination. I think those traits play a major role in the success of men on probation. For one those men will have a drive to abide by their probation stipulations and in the end get off probation without any hiccups along the way. Another positive masculinity trait that is helpful in the success of probation is strength and I'm not talking about physical strength. I am referring to mental strength. We can all attest to how difficult it can be to have someone breathing down our necks to make sure we do what we are supposed to... which is basically what probation is. It takes a whole lot of strength and composure to endure that kind of treatment. I feel that the mental toughness men have helps them a great deal in the completion of their probation. The last masculinity trait I want to cover is competitiveness. I feel that the majority of men have a small piece of them that is very competitive and they don't like to lose. While yes, the men on probation have lost at not getting caught for their crimes I think that the competitive trait plays a major role in their success of probation. They feel the urge to almost beat (not physically) their probation officer. The don't want to "lose" at it all over again so I feel that drives them to steer clear of all the negatives out there. 

While these are just a few masculine traits that can help men out on their time on probation I feel that these three push them to stick to it, it being probation. Being on probation has to be a very tough experience for some and they often resort to old behaviors, some of those behaviors could actually help them in being successful in their probation experience.

Hegemonic & Toxic Masculinites in Probation

After having read the Kuper's reading about toxic masculinity I began to think about it in terms of probation. While many of the end results of displaying toxic masculinity (and being caught for it) will put you in prison the probation side often sees a less drastic measure of toxic masculinity. When I say less drastic version I am referring to violence. If a person commits a violent crime they often go to prison and probation officers don't work with prison population. With having said that toxic masculinity comes to the surface in terms of respect, insensitivity to others and being dependent on others.

Respect is often the biggest cause of exhibiting toxic masculinity. Most men, not all are often driven by being respected. It comes from the masculinity trait of power. Being respected brings a sense of power or entitlement to people. When that is sense of respect is challenged it leads to acting out with toxic masculinities. In probation I would be dealing with offenders who feel that they have been disrespected which landed them in jail, but more importantly if I wanted to successfully help these people I would have to give them respect to truly connect with them.
Another way toxic masculinity is seen in probation is insensitivity to others. To make a long story short, the people I work with have committed a crime against someone, something or a large group and that is the ultimate way to display being insensitive to others.
Lastly, toxic masculinity is portrayed when a man has negative feelings towards being dependent on someone. Along with respect I feel this is the most difficult part of conquering toxic masculinity in probation. Once a man is placed on probation he is either out of jail or has committed a crime leaving him with not a lot of resources so he becomes dependent on people to help him accomplish daily tasks. This sense of dependency becomes very intimidating to men and they often react negatively towards it which leads to the display of toxic masculinity.

After having read the Kuper's reading I started to think of how to recognize toxic masculinity and how to work through it. I don't think this type of masculinity will ever go away, so it becomes every individuals persons job to recognize it and help men try to overcome it.

Men & Probation

As most of us know men make up the majority of our prison and jail populations with an increasing number of women nowadays. Also, men make up the majority of employed probation officers as well. In this blog I want to focus on how hegemonic masculinity reaches out and effects probation and the work it is trying accomplish. 

Hegemonic masculinity plays a big part in the criminal justice system as we have found out. Men are encouraged to commit violent acts and crimes in general through the use of media and some social structures. It is from my observations that some men just can't comply with the stipulations of probation and I think it has a lot to do the societal pressures of masculinity they face. Once a man is placed on probation he is expected to follow the guidelines of his probation and be fall back into the grooves of society. I refer to guidelines which are rules such as no alcohol consumption or possession, having to check in with your probation officer sometimes multiple times daily and regular urine tests. When men are on probation it would be easy to feel powerless or like a child again. I think that a very valid reason some men don't succeed while on probation because they can't give up some of their masculinity.

As a probation officer I hope to challenge this by letting my clients feel as if they still have some control over their life. I want them to feel like I'm not treating them as children and that they are responsible for making changes to their lives. I think this is one of the first steps in helping men be successful on their journey on probation because we can't expect them to be contributing members of society and better their lives if they feel like they are being stripped of all their dignity.

Probation Overview

THERE MAY BE SOME CLASSMATES THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PURPOSE AND FUNCTION OF PROBATION IS. IN THIS POST, I WILL ELABORATE ON THE FUNCTIONS OF PROBATION. 

THE FIRST AND FOREMOST PART OF THEIR JOB IS TO WORK WITH THE OFFENDER IN THE COMMUNITY TO PREVENT THEM COMMITTING ADDITIONAL CRIMES. PROBATION OFFICERS DO THIS BY WORKING WITH OFFENDERS AND PROVIDING THEM WITH SKILLS THAT WILL HELP THEM STAY OUT OF JAIL. THE GOAL OF PROBATION IS TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM.

WHILE PROBATION OFFICERS ARE NOT POLICE OFFICERS, THEY ARE STILL CONSIDERED TO BE LAW ENFORCEMENT. PROBATION OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE THE SAME PHYSICAL TEST POLICE OFFICERS TAKE. ON A DAILY BASIS THEY MEET WITH CLIENTS, CONDUCT DRUG TESTS, DO HOME/EMPLOYMENT VISITS AND ARE ABLE TO ARREST OFFENDER IF PROBATION IS VIOLATED.

PROBATION OFFICERS WORK CLOSELY WITH THE COURTS. IF AN OFFENDER HAS VIOLATED THE STIPULATIONS OF THEIR PROBATION, THE PROBATION OFFICER HAS TO INFORM THE COURT AND MAY BE REQUIRED TO TESTIFY. 

ANOTHER PIECE OF INFORMATION TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT PROBATION OFFICERS IS...THEY ARE DIFFERENT FROM PAROLE OFFICERS. PROBATION OFFICERS WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO JAIL OR SENTENCED PROBATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO GOING TO JAIL. PAROLE OFFICERS DEAL STRICTLY WITH OFFENDERS WHO HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO PRISON. 

PROBATION OFFICERS PLAY A KEY PIECE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. NOT ONLY ARE THEY GUIDING INDIVIDUALS, BUT THEY ARE OFFERING THEM SKILLS TO BETTER THEIR LIVES. 

INTRODUCTION

HELLO TCRIM 375 AND WELCOME TO MY BLOG. IN THIS BLOG I WILL BE LOOKING AT  MEN AND MASCULINITY IN PROBATION. THROUGHOUT THIS QUARTER I WILL EXAMINE THE CURRENT PROBATION SYSTEM AND THE ROLES MEN PLAY IN IT AND OFFER SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO DEVELOP THE SYSTEM. MOST PEOPLE HAVE A GENERAL IDEA OF WHAT PROBATION IS, BUT NOT MANY REALIZE THE CURRENT RATIO OF MEN ON PROBATION AND THE PROBLEMS IN THE SYSTEM.

WITH MY CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION I WILL BE STUDYING THIS QUARTER, I HOPE TO EXPLORE AND OFFER INSIGHT INTO THE ROLE MEN AND MASCULINITY PLAY IN THE PROBATION SYSTEM. MY GOAL IS TO NOT ONLY BECOME MORE EDUCATED ON THIS TOPIC, BUT TO SHARE MY KNOWLEDGE WITH THE REST OF THE CLASS. I ALSO HOPE TO SPARK SOME IDEAS OF CHANGES IN THE PROBATION SYSTEM.