II. Interview Structure

Perhaps the most important feature of a successful interview is the manner in which staff communicates with offenders. This interpersonal communication is the key to supervision; it far outweighs the effects of other intervening factors such as the interview environment, or the gender, race or age of staff and offenders.

One way to organize an effective meeting with offenders is through a process described as the "semi-structured interview." This type of interview provides guidelines that set the general course of the interview without confining the interviewer to an exact set of verbatim questions. It allows staff the freedom to gather information from offenders using their own personal style, while still covering the required topics. Offenders will sense the sincerity of the questions, and the information gathered from these meetings will prove very useful throughout the supervision period.