Poster #65 - Supervising Supervision: Staff and Client Perspectives on Probation Oversight

• In Event: Poster Session I (posters 1 - 79)

Abstract

Community supervision agencies play a central role in the criminal justice system. While policing– and to a lesser extent institutional corrections–, has seen the expansion of oversight and transparency mechanisms such as body-worn cameras and civilian oversight over the past decade, almost no research examines oversight and accountability in probation departments. Further, to our knowledge, few probation agencies have formal oversight mechanisms in place. This poster draws on qualitative interviews with individuals on probation (n = 45) and probation officers (n = 15) to explore perspectives on oversight in probation. By centering on the voices of those most directly involved in community supervision, this study provides insight into how staff and clients understand the need for oversight and the types of accountabilities they view as most meaningful.

Authors

• Dua Shahid, DePaul University

• Isabella Still, DePaul University

• Kayla Freemon, DePaul University

• Caroline McCabe, Cook County Adult Probation Department