Summary: | This descriptive study set out to determine if federal probation officers used discretion, and if so, how it was applied to decisions of post-conviction modification and revocation in the supervision of federal offenders. A survey of 82 federal probation officers in the Eighth Circuit of the U.S. Courts was developed, conducted, and analyzed. Findings suggested at least some mild use of discretion by officers, but not radical in the use. Factors influencing discretion included administrative policies, supervisors, and individual characteristics of officers and the offenders they supervise. Offender reentry research was compared with the findings and suggestions made for future research
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