Case Study: Out-of-Town Brown and the Besieged Probation

The Collier County Probation Department received two negative media remarks in the past month. The media stated that the probation agency was soft on crime. The chief of probation decided to react to the situation by implementing stricter and more detailed persistence investigation reports. However, the chief of probation used personal leave and left Joan Casey the supervisor In charge of the department.

Casey Is In charge of responding to any Inquiries presented by the media and Is under reassure by the media and the chief of probation to make the right decision that will satisfy the public, media, and the chief of probation. The current case is pending final Judgment and is about a 23-year-old man who murdered his stepfather and was a victim for many year of physical and incest abuse.

However, other than the stepfather the man is not considered a risk to the public.

The probation department is proposing Intermediate sanction to the Judge for the 23-year-old man. A well- known television anchor contacted Casey by phone to discuss the sentencing prior to the final judgment. In this particular situation Casey should avoid the reporter and not provided information when a judge has not made decision. Another reason Casey should avoid speaking to the anchor is because the news potentially could have a public reaction, thus making her agency a target for the media.

Also there is no way that Casey could know If the anchor may report a negative remark and not support her departments sentencing proposal.

Case’s Response to the reporter If a response is provided by Casey about the proposed sentencing to the reporter it should relate directly to the data that was researched and analyzed in the resistance investigation report. Although this particular case is considered a high level crime the cause of the action is very clear.

The individual suffered years of physical and sexual abuse that resulted in psychological disorder that started at an early age. Intermediate sanctions have a more supervised environment than regular prisons. According to JUDD Model Programs Gulled (201 3), “studies have shown that juvenile facilities are housing significant numbers of youth who pose no significant threat to community safety and who could be managed as effectively in less extractive and less costly programs and settings.

Intermediate sanctions have programs such as cognitive behavioral treatment, conflict resolution Interpersonal skills, and family therapy that will be beneficial for the individual’s psychological disorder. These programs will also assist In making the prisoner a functional member of society by increasing their chance of employment. Other sections of the program may consist of home arrest, boot camps, and serious probation supervision. Only particular offenders would qualify for these programs and are allocated accordingly by the probation officer, depending on the needs of the offender.