An internship in public administration performed at Pima County Adult Probation Office Tucson, Arizona: June 16, 1969 - August 25, 1969

Abstract

The internship experience with the Pima County Superior Court Adult Probation Office provided opportunities to observe administrative principles, policies, procedures, and practices, and to observe and to participate in the actual use of professional correctional policies, principles, practices and techniques in a community adult probation program. Administrative techniques were observed during the day-to-day activities of the probation office as practiced by the chief probation officer, his chief deputy and his staff. Publications which pertained to the administration of this and related agencies were studied. The administration and operation of collateral governmental executive and judicial agencies were also observed. Services of these agencies were often used. Probation deputies were observed during the performance of every function of their offices. Additional professional knowledge was gained by study of relevant documents and publications, and by personal interviews. Direct participation in probationary activities was experienced while assisting the other probation officers in the performance of their professional duties and by personally completing six presentence Investigations and reports, by participating in judicial sentencing procedures, by completing post-sentencing dispositions, and by conducting probation treatment and supervision activities. The records and files of the probation office were examined and studied. Part of this perusal was incidental to the compilation of probation caseload and presentence report statistical information. As the internship progressed, a comparison was made of academic knowledge and practical use of the principles, policies, and practices of administration and correctional probation.