A Comparison of Male and Female Community Supervision Officers and Their Use of Effective Correctional Skills

• In Event: Effective Case Management Strategies in Community Corrections

Abstract

Research has demonstrated key skills and intervention techniques that community supervision officers should emphasize in order to increase the effectiveness of community corrections. These skills and techniques are grounded in the Risk, Need and Responsivity principles and assess four constructs including structuring skills, relationship building skills, behavioural techniques, and cognitive techniques (Bonta et al., 2010). The extent to which the officer’s gender influences the skills and intervention techniques used most frequently with clients is unknown. As such, the current research aims to examine whether or not there are gender differences in officers’ use of key skills and intervention techniques. Recorded supervision sessions were examined and preliminary results indicate that male officers used cognitive techniques significantly more frequently than female officers. Additionally, female officers engaged in relationship building skills more frequently than their male counterparts, although this difference was not significant. Results indicate that overall, male and female officers have a similar approach to client intervention. This presentation/study provides insight into the current practices of community supervision officers and their adherence to the principles of effective correctional intervention. The impact on client behaviour (e.g., correctional program engagement) is discussed.

Authors

• Kayla Ann Wanamaker, Public Safety Canada

• Nick Chadwick, Public Safety Canada

• Leticia Gutierrez, Public Safety Canada

• Guy Bourgon, Public Safety Canada

• Tanya Rugge, Public Safety Canada

• Jim Bonta, Public Safety Canada