Do you believe probation officers can really keep offenders from committing new crimes or violating the conditions of their probation? If you were a probation officer today, by which outcome measures would you want to be judged? Why? If recidivism is used as a measure of probation's effectiveness, how should it be defined? (For the purpose of this discussion you may look beyond "probation" and take into consideration "supervised release" in the role of the probation officer.)
If possible contact a probation officer in your local area. Discuss caseloads and problems in supervising offenders. What is their favorite part of their job? The most difficult? What advice would they offer an individual entering their field of work