Corrections Issues and Practices - Essay Example

Joan has various options before her. The two most possible ones are the following.

She can follow the guidelines of her chief officer by keeping away from the response.

Make her officer’s recommendation of community-based treatment to the accused known to the press, thereby easing up the situation.

Though both of the options are operational in this particular situation, a judicious decision would be to opt for the second. It is because there have been already similar situations wherein the agency had to suffer. In this situation, silence on the issue would only damage the reputation of the agency because there is greater the reporter, who is a strong crusader in the local war against crime, can damage the reputation of the agency if the situation is not well managed. Joan needs to make clear the importance and specifications of the particular case and the need for community-based treatment for the 16-year-old mentally retarded boy who can be best served by the decision. It will also help Joan overcome the exceptional situation she is put in.

2. If she elects to discuss her officer’s recommendation, what should she say to justify it?
There are various vital points that Joan needs to establish to justify her decision to follow the recommendation made by one of her officers that the 16-year-old mentally retarded boy should be provided with community-based treatment. She has to prove all her arguments valid to the reporter and therefore the following points may be put across in justification of the decision.

The case of the 16-year-old accused is entirely different from the normal cases and this must be treated as one of the extraordinary cases of this sort.

Though the boy killed the stepfather nobody can forget the kind of mental and physical abuse he has been put in for a long period.
Put in a similar situation, the most perfect and normal human being can go following the same choice that the boy followed.

If the case of the normal beings is such a more munificent and liberal approach needs to be taken towards an abnormal mentally retarded boy who is but just 16.

The age and the environment of the accused need to be taken into consideration and the risk for recidivism is minimal as he has been the victim of circumstances.

Given the aforementioned situations, the most apposite decision could be that the 16-year-old mentally retarded boy is provided with community-based treatment.

3. What should the chief probation officer do upon his return to work?
When the specific situation, the nature, and the orders of the chief probation officer are read together, there is every possibility that he responds in one of the following manners.

He will accuse Joan of violating his orders and doing things unwarranted in a way that damages the reputation of the agency and take disciplinary action.

May go about finding fault with the decision taken and rearrange the entire policy in a way that an experienced and more efficient officer is given the responsibility of the entire activity regarding the matter wherein he plays a key role.

Will see things and situations as they are and accept and appreciate the efforts.

Will assess and evaluate the action of Joan and make corrections where needed.

Although all these are possibilities, the chief probation officer should take the most innovative and judicious steps to see that plans of Joan are carried forward and realized as such action alone could help the specific case to be resolved. Therefore, he needs to act with extra maturity and consciousness.
4. Was the probation officer’s recommendation correct based on these facts?

Many often the longevity of probation officers is treated as a reason for stress and/or burnout and they “are more likely to leave the position or try to avoid additional work.” (Peak, 2001). Conversely, the recommendation of the officer is not based on any such reasons. It is a correct recommendation to make considering the given facts.

5. Should a policy be immediately drafted for this situation? Should any personnel actions be taken?
It is particularly notable that the recommendation and the decision about the specific case must be followed through and if any type of policy is to be drafted, it must be in realization of this effort.

It is also notable that there is no reason why any of the personnel, neither Joan nor the probation officer, is taken disciplinary action against them.