officer intimidation & assault over the course of their careers 64% of probation and parole...
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Officer Intimidation & Assault
Over the course of their careers
•64% of probation and parole officers felt intimidated in their jobs
•14% were physically assaulted in one way or another
Source: Federal Judicial Center, 1997
Locations of Risk
Officers are at Greatest Risk of an incident with a probationer in
•Home Visits (24% of total)
•Office Visits (21% of total)
•Streets/Community (18% of total)
Source: Federal Justicial Center, 1997
Announced Home Visit
Surprise Home Visit
Offender Arrest
Ultimate Survival Tool
In potentially assaultive situations, well-trained and experienced probation officers depend on:
Mental skills 75% of the time
Shooting skill 15% of the time
Physical skill 5% of the time
Luck 5% of the time
Probation officers are increasingly seen by offenders as:
• A threat to their freedom
• An adversary
• A target for aggression
Officer Safety
“Officer safety is not a community corrections philosophy or mission; it has nothing to do with whether you perceive your role as a social worker or police officer. Officer safety is a commitment to a specific and practical plan to ensure the safety, survival, and welfare of officers.”
Richard Kipp
Chief, Lehigh County Probation
Officer Safety
“Officer safety is, foremost, a state of mind. For many it is simply a cognitive exercise, but for others, it is an emotional confrontation with risks and uncertainties…. Unfortunately, the value of training is acknowledged by some only after they have been injured.”
Richard Kipp
Chief, Lehigh County Probation