|
Evidence-Based Community Supervision Research Project Informed Consent Form – Field Supervisor 2 RESEARCH PROCEDURES The purpose of this research project is to understand how different trainings affect the way managers use evidence-based practices within community supervision processes and practices as well as to guide future models of implementing evidence based practices in these environments. This is a research project being conducted by the George Mason University in collaboration with the Crime and Justice Institute. The project involves a new initiative designed to improve assessments, service placements, and management of offenders and staff. The research will study these practices, help identify how they can be made more effective, and test strategies for training staff to make improvements to assessments, service placements, and supervision of offenders in the community. If you agree to participate, you will be asked to take a survey on up to four occasions over a year. The surveys will include questions about assessment, referral, and case management practices employed by MDPSCS staff and your perceptions of the organization. The surveys should take about 30 minutes of your time to complete. You will also be asked to participate in two focus groups over the course of the next year. The purpose of the focus groups is to give the research team your perceptions on how things are going within MDPSCS. Each focus group will take approximately 2 hours. RISKS The foreseeable risk or discomforts associated with your participation in this study are limited. In answering questions, you may provide information or opinions about your workplace environment 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. BENEFITS There are no direct benefits to you as a participant other than to further research on evidence-based practices in community supervision.
CONFIDENTIALITY We will employ a number of procedures to help keep your personal information confidential. We will not inform anyone about who is and who is not participating in the research. If you complete the first survey, your email address will be included on a cover sheet of the survey and you will be assigned an identification number thereafter. The key linking your name to the number will be kept in a secure location and only be accessible to the GMU project director and designated project staff. Signed consent forms and completed survey forms will also be kept in separate locked file cabinets in an office at GMU. Your survey responses will not be made available to anyone at MDPSCS or anyone else other than research project staff. We will use only pseudonyms in the field note accounts of focus groups. Although focus group participants will be asked to keep the contents of the discussion confidential, due to the nature of a focus group, the researcher cannot control what participants might say outside of the research setting. No names will be used in reports or presentations, and we will not provide any information that might allow someone to identify individual respondents. If we write a report or article about this research project, your identity will be protected to the maximum extent possible. 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. There are two incentives for each survey period. The first incentive is a catered lunch for the offices with the highest percentage of participants who take the survey during that survey period. In a case of a tie where multiple offices have 100% completion, each office with 100% will receive lunch. The second reward is a $50 gift card given that is potentially given to one staff member in each region. If your region reaches 80% participation in the survey period, than every potential participant (whether they took the survey or not) will be entered to win the gift card. A winner will be randomly selected by the research team within one week after the survey has ended. If a region does not reach 80% participation, they will not be eligible for the drawing. 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 Taxman, Department of Criminology, Law, & Society, at George Mason University. She 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 the research.
Your participation in the study indicates that: you are at least 18 years of age; the research has been explained to you; your questions have been fully answered; and you freely and voluntarily choose to participate in this research project.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Definition: Degree to which individuals view their organization as open to change and supportive of new ideas.
Please respond to the following statements in terms of the degree to which they accurately reflect the climate in your organization. (from 1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree)
In my organization…
|
|
|
|
|
HOW MUCH DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT TREATMENT? (from 1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree)
|
|
|
|
|
Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements about your organization.
|
|
|
|
|
The leader (supervisor) of this office… (from 1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree)
|
|
|
|
|
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about crime reduction? (from 1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree)
The best way to reduce crime is to…
|
|
|
|
|
Your work puts you in direct contact with the personal lives of others. As you probably have experiences, your compassion for those you help has both positive and negative aspects. This survey explores your experiences as Probation Agent. Select a number that honestly reflect how frequently you experienced these feelings in the last 30 days.
|
|
|
|
|
The following survey is designed to provide you with an indication of the extent to which various individual-level stressors are sources of stress to you. For each item, you should indicate the frequency with which the condition described is a source of stress. Example, 1= the condition described is something that is never a source of stress.
|
|
|
|
|
Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements about efforts to make changes in the system in which you work. (from 1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree).
Ability to make changes in the office in which you work…
|
|
|
|
|
To what extent do the FS1(s) you supervise routinely encourage their staff to use the following in creating treatment service plans for clients on their caseload? (Please check one for each row)
|
|
|
|
|
To what extent do you use the following case management practices with clients on your caseload?
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
|
Please indicate the extent to which you feel comfortable doing the following.
|
|
|
|
|
Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about the need for additional guidance or training in your unit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Have any of the following events ever occurred under your supervision? Please check all that apply. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| What is the exact title of your position? | | |
|
|
|
|
| What office are you currently located in? | | |
|
|
|
|
Which region do you work in? |
| |
|
|
|
|
What is your highest level of education? |
| |
|
|
|
|
In what field did you receive your highest degree? |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Are you (check all that apply): |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Have you worked in any of the following fields? (check all that apply) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| How long have you been with the organizations (years)? | | |
|
|
|
|
| How long have you been in your current position (months)? | | |
|
|
|