Office Interviews

Staff can take several steps to create a conducive interviewing environment in parole and probation offices. Interview rooms should be safe and private and perceived as such. Up front, staff should inform offenders that information will be confidential to the degree possible. The more comfortable an offender is, the more likely he is to provide complete, valid and accurate information. For example, at sites where staff members share offices or sit in "cubicles," a room should be specifically designated and reserved for interviews. Staff who share an office can arrange a schedule to allow for privacy.

During the interview, staff should try to minimize distractions such as computer interactions, conversations with co-workers and telephone calls. Arrangements can be made so all calls are held or routed to others during critical meetings. This reinforces the importance of the meeting, both to staff and offenders.