Unpacking the relationship between probationers with serious mental illnesses and probation officers: A mixed-methods examination

Building a therapeutic relationship between probation officers and probationers with serious mental illnesses

“…A positive working relationship between professional and client is a key ingredient in effective delivery of human services. 23 This working relationship is achieved through a shared understanding of goals, clear assignment of therapeutic tasks, and development of a bond between worker and client. 24 Studies across a range of therapeutic services have identified essential therapist characteristics that positively influence the working relationship, including attributes such as warmth, empathy, and trustworthiness and techniques such as exploration, reflection, and conveying support.…”

“…[35][36][37] Although most research on the therapeutic relationship in community supervision settings has been conducted with the general probation and/or parole population, some work has explored this relationship specifically among justiceinvolved persons with SMI, identifying key characteristics of a positive therapeutic relationship such as caring, fairness, trust, and support. 23,38,39 Moreover, successful engagement of justice-involved persons with SMI is related to an increased sense of procedural justice (or fairness) and lower perceptions of coercion, both of which are indicators of higher participation in mental health treatment and criminal justice programming. [40][41] In a study conducted by members of the study team, 43 qualitative interviews with 21 probation officers were conducted to better understand how officers in a specialized mental health probation unit, mental health court, and standard probation program utilize different supervision approaches and balance the perceived dual roles of law enforcement and rehabilitation when working with SMI probationers.…”

“…35 After controlling for significant covariates, probationers in mental health court rated the quality of their relationships with their probation officers higher than probationers in specialized mental health probation or standard probation groups. 23 However, officers who were assigned to supervise mental health caseloads were perceived by the probationers under their supervision as more caring, trustworthy, supportive, and less authoritarian than those probationers assigned to standard probation. The authors conclude that being treated with genuine care, fairness, and support is therapeutic and can be transformative for probationers with SMI.…”

“…The challenge, however, is the operationalization of these ideas into regular day-to-day practices within probation programs. 23 Some existing probation officer training programs address core correctional practices including limited content on relationship quality, but these approaches have not been adapted for probationers with SMI. 44,45 Although these studies demonstrate that the quality of the relationship between officer and client is a critical ingredient in achieving better mental health and criminal justice outcomes, no evidence-based interventions have been developed to target this relationship among probationers with SMI.…”

“…This theme resonated with earlier research our team had done with probationers with SMI, who emphasized the interconnection of trust, support, and caring as powerful components of a relationship with their probation officer that facilitated motivation and engagement in services. 23 Furthermore, stakeholder meetings addressed logistical issues such as existing training and stated needs of officers, examination of current probation protocols and required paperwork, and officer acceptability of intervention concepts. 47 Next, members of the research team observed 15 scheduled sessions with mental health unit probation officers and their clients with SMI in order to better understand the context and environment in which probation supervision meetings take place.…”