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Please read this brief informed consent statement:
RESEARCH PROCEDURES This research is being conducted to gather information which will help in further implementation of SOARING 2 in your community corrections setting. Participation in the research procedures will include a short survey (15-30 minutes) at the start of the study period, a series of training modules and quizzes (10-15 hours), and a second short survey (30-45 minutes) at the end of the study period. Administrative data will also be collected to gather information regarding the offenders under your supervision. Additionally, staff may be observed by study coaches throughout the study period. Finally, coaches will be asked to participate in monthly conference calls with the research staff. These calls will last approximately one hour each month.
RISKS The foreseeable risks or discomforts of participating in this survey research are limited. In answering the questions, you may provide information or opinions that are critical of your agency or may be viewed unfavorably by administrators, your supervisors, or fellow employees, with the small risk that this information or opinions may be seen by others. Research staff will implement procedures to reduce these risks, as described below.
BENEFITS Benefits to probation officers within participating offices include valuable training on skills associated with using evidence-based practices for the effective management of offenders. Participating agencies will also be introduced to e-learning as a cost-efficient method of providing knowledge and skills to staff members. From a larger perspective, this study will benefit the field of criminal justice by providing proven, cost-effective methods of providing probation officers and other justice staff with evidence-based skills and knowledge. It will illustrate the impact of these new skills on offender outcomes.
CONFIDENTIALITY The data in this study will be kept confidential. To help protect your confidentiality your name will not be included on the survey instruments and other collected data. Instead, we will replace your name with a unique numerical code. Your responses will only be able to be linked to your identity through the use of an identification key. Only researchers from GMU will have access to the identification key. No administrators in your agency, including your supervisor, will be told about your participation in the survey. They will also not be told if you choose to not answer some survey questions or terminate your participation in the survey.
PARTICIPATION Your participation is voluntary, and you may withdraw from the study at any time and for any reason. If you decide not to participate or if you withdraw from the study, there is no penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. There are no costs to you or any other party.
CONTACT This research is being conducted by Dr. Faye S. Taxman of the Criminology, Law and Society Department at George Mason University and Dr. Ralph Serin of the Psychology Department at Carleton University. Dr. Taxman may be reached at 703-993-8555 or [email protected] for questions or to report a research-related problem. You may contact the George Mason University Office of Research Subject Protections at 703-993-4121 or [email protected] if you have questions or comments regarding your rights as a participant in this research.
This research has been reviewed according to George Mason University procedures governing your participation in this research. The George Mason University Human Subjects Review Board has waived the requirement for a signature on this consent form. However, if you wish to sign a consent form, please contact Dr. Faye S. Taxman at 703-993-8555 or [email protected].
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Please read this brief informed consent statement:
RESEARCH PROCEDURES This research is being conducted to gather information which will help in further implementation of SOARING 2 in your community corrections setting. Participation in the research procedures will include a short survey (15-30 minutes) at the start of the study period, a series of training modules and quizzes (10-15 hours), and a second short survey (30-45 minutes) at the end of the study period. Administrative data will also be collected to gather information regarding the offenders under your supervision. Additionally, staff may be observed by study coaches throughout the study period. Finally, coaches will be asked to participate in monthly conference calls with the research staff. These calls will last approximately one hour each month.
RISKS The foreseeable risks or discomforts of participating in this survey research are limited. In answering the questions, you may provide information or opinions that are critical of your agency or may be viewed unfavorably by administrators, your supervisors, or fellow employees, with the small risk that this information or opinions may be seen by others. Research staff will implement procedures to reduce these risks, as described below.
BENEFITS Benefits to probation officers within participating offices include valuable training on skills associated with using evidence-based practices for the effective management of offenders. Participating agencies will also be introduced to e-learning as a cost-efficient method of providing knowledge and skills to staff members. From a larger perspective, this study will benefit the field of criminal justice by providing proven, cost-effective methods of providing probation officers and other justice staff with evidence-based skills and knowledge. It will illustrate the impact of these new skills on offender outcomes.
CONFIDENTIALITY The data in this study will be kept confidential. To help protect your confidentiality your name will not be included on the survey instruments and other collected data. Instead, we will replace your name with a unique numerical code. Your responses will only be able to be linked to your identity through the use of an identification key. Only researchers from GMU will have access to the identification key. No administrators in your agency, including your supervisor, will be told about your participation in the survey. They will also not be told if you choose to not answer some survey questions or terminate your participation in the survey.
PARTICIPATION Your participation is voluntary, and you may withdraw from the study at any time and for any reason. If you decide not to participate or if you withdraw from the study, there is no penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. There are no costs to you or any other party.
CONTACT This research is being conducted by Dr. Faye S. Taxman of the Criminology, Law and Society Department at George Mason University and Dr. Ralph Serin of the Psychology Department at Carleton University. Dr. Taxman may be reached at 703-993-8555 or [email protected] for questions or to report a research-related problem. You may contact the George Mason University Office of Research Subject Protections at 703-993-4121 or [email protected] if you have questions or comments regarding your rights as a participant in this research.
This research has been reviewed according to George Mason University procedures governing your participation in this research. The George Mason University Human Subjects Review Board has waived the requirement for a signature on this consent form. However, if you wish to sign a consent form, please contact Dr. Faye S. Taxman at 703-993-8555 or [email protected].
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1. Please indicate the extent to which you feel comfortable doing the following.
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2. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements.
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3. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements about your organization.
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4. Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about the condition and functioning of your community corrections office.
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5. Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about the conditions and functioning of your community corrections office.
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6. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements about efforts to make changes in your community corrections office.
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7. To what extent do you employ each of the following procedures in referring and monitoring clients on your caseload to non-residential treatment or services?
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8. To what extent do you use the following case management practices with clients on your caseload?
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9. What are your primary job responsibilities (select all that apply)? |
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| Face-to-face meetings with offenders | | | | Looking up information in records (e.g., assessments, warrants, etc.) | | | | Court-related activities | | | | Contacting service providers | | | | Staff meetings | | | | Trainings | | | | Supervising/mentoring other officers | | | | Other | | |
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11. How frequently do you typically speak to an offender about the following:
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* 12. From the following options, please choose the role that best describes your participation in the SOARING 2 pilot study. |
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