Assessing Officer Behavioral Profiles from Officer-Client Interaction in Probation and Parole

• In Event: Officer-Client Dynamics and Relationship Quality

Abstract

While prior research emphasizes the importance of positive social support during reentry, little is known about the typical patterns of interaction between probation/parole officers and their clients. Rather than predefining a “good” relationship, this study uses data-driven methods to identify distinct officer behavior profiles based on objective ratings of 13 specific officer behaviors (e.g., reflect, affirm, confront) adapted from the Motivational Interviewing Behavior Manual. We analyzed 1,650 videos involving 609 unique officer-client dyads over an 18-month period. Trained raters timestamped each observed behavior, allowing us to calculate behavior rates by dividing behavior counts by video length. For dyads with multiple interactions, average behavior rates were calculated across sessions. Effectively, we have 13 behavior rates for 609 officer-client dyads to conduct the analyses. Using latent class analysis, we identify distinct classes of officer behavior profiles in interactions. Revealing distinct officer behavioral patterns will highlight variations in communication styles that may influence client responsiveness and cooperation. This study lays the groundwork for future research to examine which officer behavioral profiles are most strongly linked to sustained client engagement and compliance. These insights can inform targeted training approaches to enhance officer-client interactions and ultimately improve supervision outcomes and reduce recidivism.

Authors

• Donia Chiciu, Georgia State University

• Frances Chen, Georgia State University