Stress in Probation Officers Enforcing Judgments in Criminal and Juvenile Cases

Abstract

Men and women practicing the profession of probation officer do not differ inthe evaluation of the majority of stressors. Differences between sexes occurred only in the case of factors impeding the development and course of professional career and factors related to the lack of safety and substantive support. In both cases, the level of experienced stress observed in women employed as probation officers was significantly higher compared to men. The type of profession practiced differentiates the group of respondents only in evaluating stressors related to inconsistencies and ambiguity connected with the performance of professional duties, as well as stressors connected to supervision activities and inadequate physical working conditions. In both cases, probation officers enforcing judgments in criminal cases displayed a significantly higher level of experienced stress.

Keywords

• stress of probation officers
• sources of stress
• polish probation officers