Tom Kelsey E, Allen Savanna, Cross Allison R, Fine Adam D
School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University.
School of Interdisciplinary Forensics, Arizona State University.
Law Hum Behav. 2025 Jun;49(3):298-310. doi: 10.1037/lhb0000606. Epub 2025 May 8.
Beyond traditional in-person meetings, contemporary juvenile probation officers (JPOs) leverage modern technology to interact with youth via videoconferencing, phone calls, and text messaging. It is plausible that youth feel more-or less-supported by JPOs depending on the format of their interactions. Simultaneously, the procedural justice literature suggests that the quality of JPOs' interactions with youth may be as much or more influential on JPO-youth relationships than interaction format. Given that more positive supervisory relationships are associated with better probation outcomes, it is critical to understand what may shape youths' regard for JPOs. This study examined youths' perceived support from JPOs across four interaction formats. Then, this study examined how two supervisory experiences (interaction quality and frequency) were associated with youths' perceived support from JPOs through each interaction format.
We hypothesized that youth would feel similarly supported by JPOs across all four interaction formats. Per procedural justice theory, we expected that youth who perceived better quality relationships with their JPO (i.e., more procedurally just) would be more likely to feel supported by JPOs across all interaction formats. Last, we hypothesized that youth interacted with JPOs more often digitally, rather than in person, would be more likely to feel supported.
Youth ( = 529) on juvenile probation were surveyed to assess their probation experiences and perceptions of JPOs.
Youth felt similarly supported by JPOs across all four formats. Youth were more likely to feel supported the more often they interacted with JPOs and were much more likely to feel supported by JPOs they viewed as more procedurally just.
This study suggests that digital interactions are prevalent in juvenile probation supervision and well received by youth. Results highlight the potential of two supervisory practices that may help JPOs build better relationships with youth on probation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).
除了传统的面对面会议之外，当代青少年缓刑监督官（JPOs）还利用现代技术通过视频会议、电话和短信与青少年进行互动。根据互动形式的不同，青少年可能或多或少地感受到JPOs的支持，这是合理的。同时，程序正义文献表明，JPOs与青少年互动的质量对JPO-青少年关系的影响可能与互动形式一样大或更大。鉴于更积极的监督关系与更好的缓刑结果相关，了解哪些因素可能影响青少年对JPOs的看法至关重要。本研究考察了青少年在四种互动形式中对JPOs的感知支持。然后，本研究考察了两种监督体验（互动质量和频率）如何通过每种互动形式与青少年对JPOs的感知支持相关联。
我们假设青少年在所有四种互动形式中都会感受到JPOs类似的支持。根据程序正义理论，我们预计那些认为与JPO关系质量更好（即更具程序正义性）的青少年在所有互动形式中更有可能感受到JPOs的支持。最后，我们假设与JPOs进行数字互动（而非面对面互动）更频繁的青少年更有可能感受到支持。
对处于青少年缓刑期的529名青少年进行了调查，以评估他们的缓刑经历和对JPOs的看法。
青少年在所有四种形式中都感受到JPOs类似的支持。青少年与JPOs互动越频繁，就越有可能感受到支持，并且更有可能受到他们认为更具程序正义性的JPOs的支持。
本研究表明，数字互动在青少年缓刑监督中很普遍，并且受到青少年的欢迎。研究结果凸显了两种监督实践的潜力，这可能有助于JPOs与缓刑期青少年建立更好的关系。（PsycInfo数据库记录（c）2025美国心理学会，保留所有权利）
