Out-of-Office Interviews

Field interviews also should be as private as possible to maximize respect and privacy. Since elements in the field are harder to control and are slightly more unpredictable, staff should be even more sensitive to privacy and safety issues. Staff should find places to talk to offenders or collateral contacts that are quiet, have few distractions and where their conversations will not be overheard. Staff should respect the offender's desire to keep his situation private, and practice both prudence and discretion when contacting the offender as well as his family, friends or employers.

Since interviews are frequently conducted where the environment is not controllable, staff should plan for difficult situations. Some offices have developed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with local police and services agencies that provide for assistance to the supervision staff in potential problematic households or other settings.