Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE CRM5002

 
TITLE Dynamics in Probation: Interactivity and Counselling Concerns

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL 7

 
ECTS CREDITS 10

 
DEPARTMENT Criminology

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit provides an in-depth consideration of the role of the probation officer as one distinct from other professionals working in criminal justice field. This unit will address the theoretical and practical components of community sanctions. The second part of this unit shall deal with the counselling skills needed in probation work continuing with methods of how to deal with probationers and other criminal justice offenders. Areas of controversies and concern about probation officers and probation work will be addressed. Case management and the various issues that arise in the field of probation will also be covered. Such issues will include: equality in the treatment of offenders, gender equality, officer burn-out, dealing with difficult/reluctant clients and with other professionals. This unit will also consider the international perspective of probation. The various criminal justice systems that comprise probation work will be addressed and students will be acquainted with the practice of probation around the world.

Study-unit Aims:

- To familiarize students with the role of the probation officer
- The familiarize students with the theoretical aspects of community sanctions
- To help them acquire the counselling skills needed in probation work.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Describe the role of the probation officer.
- Describe effective techniques of dealing with probationers.
- List the steps required to effectively manage probation cases.
- Describe the interactive processes emanating from counselling issues.
- Critically discuss the theoretical components in community sactions
- List and critically discuss the areas of controversies.
- Describe the international dimension of probation.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Manage probation cases.
- Deal with probationers.
- Counsel probationers.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:
(availability at the Library or otherwise is indicated against each entry)

- Body of principles for the protection of all persons under any form of detention or imprisonment (1988) (Available at the Institute Library)
- Convention on the transfer of sentenced prisoners (1983)(Available at the Institute Library)
- Convention against torture and other cruel, Inhumane or degrading treatment on Punishment (1987)(Available at the Institute Library)
- European convention on the supervision of conditionally sentenced or conditionally released offenders (1964)(Available at the Institute Library)
- European rules on community sanctions and measures: recommendation No R(92) 6.
- Gelsthorpe, L and Morgan, R (2007) Handbook of probation. Willan Publishing: USA (Available at the Institute Library)
- Hanser, R.D. (2007) Special needs offenders in the community. Prentice Hall: USA (Available at the Institute Library)
- Masters, R. (2003). Counselling criminal justice offenders. UK: Sage Publishers (Available at the Institute Library)
- Round, D. L. (2000). Comparative international criminal justice. USA: Allyn & Bacon. (Available at the Institute Library)
- Siegel, L.J. (2006). Criminology. (9th ed.). UK: Thomson and Wadsworth. (Available at the Institute Library)
- Standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners (1977) (Available at the Institute Library)
- UN standard minimum rules for non-custodial measures (the Tokyo rules) (1990) (Available at the Institute Library)
- Van Kalmthout, A.M. and Derks J.T.M. (Eds) (2000) Probation and probation services: A European perspective. Wolf Legal Publishers: The Netherlands. (New edition to be published in 2008) (Available at the Institute Library)
- Van Kalmthout, A.M; Roberts, J. and Vinding, S. (Eds) (2003) Probation and probation services in the EU accession countries. Wolf Legal Publishers: The Netherlands (Available at the Institute Library)
- Ward, D, Scott, J. and Lacey, M. (2002) Probation: Working for justice. UK: Oxford University Press (Available at the Institute Library)

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM1 Yes 50%
Examination (2 Hours) SEM1 Yes 50%

 
LECTURER/S Chantal Avellino
Sandra Scicluna (Co-ord.)

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit