Friday, March 26, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Exploration 2
My second observation was very brief. I was able to visit with Officers Evans and Shifty and ask them a few questions. I asked them each the same question at the same time and their question were the same but differ at the same time. It was fun to watch them interact while in public but not in uniform. They still watched people. It was quite impressive as they answered every question and never missed a beat but at the same time I could tell that they were observing the people around. They would nudge each other if they saw someone “suspicious”. They didn’t do anything besides have a quick laugh over it. It was a short meeting but a fun one.
It wasn’t as easy for me. I didn’t tell them that I was observing them and interviewing them at the same time. I found it difficult to write two different things at the same time and get everything in. I ended up throwing away my observation notes half way through and just tried to commit what I could to memory. But those 2 were never missed a beat they watched people and answered every question that I asked. In my first observation I went to a fast food place with Officer Evans and it was fun to watch every one and how they acted around him we laughed a bit about it later. When they are in uniform regardless of the place, everyone is on pins and needles. But when they are not in uniform and look like a regular Joe no one thinks twice about them.
My second observation was very brief. I was able to visit with Officers Evans and Shifty and ask them a few questions. I asked them each the same question at the same time and their question were the same but differ at the same time. It was fun to watch them interact while in public but not in uniform. They still watched people. It was quite impressive as they answered every question and never missed a beat but at the same time I could tell that they were observing the people around. They would nudge each other if they saw someone “suspicious”. They didn’t do anything besides have a quick laugh over it. It was a short meeting but a fun one.
It wasn’t as easy for me. I didn’t tell them that I was observing them and interviewing them at the same time. I found it difficult to write two different things at the same time and get everything in. I ended up throwing away my observation notes half way through and just tried to commit what I could to memory. But those 2 were never missed a beat they watched people and answered every question that I asked. In my first observation I went to a fast food place with Officer Evans and it was fun to watch every one and how they acted around him we laughed a bit about it later. When they are in uniform regardless of the place, everyone is on pins and needles. But when they are not in uniform and look like a regular Joe no one thinks twice about them.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Exploration 2 - Interview.
I spent 3 hours Thursday evening (04 March, 2010) with “the other side” of the DUI STEP Task Force Community. I spent it in the Canyon County Jail, with Sergeant Chuck Davlin. He has been employed in the Jail for 18 years and is shift supervisor. His is also the area Intox machine (breathalyzer) calibration and repair expert. With this position he is also responsible for training and certifying area police departments and their officers in the use of the staged and portable breathalyzers and the laws that govern them and their operation.
While the DUI patrol was exciting and action packed, the jail is quite the opposite. By the time the DUI offender has gotten to the jail, they have gone through the entire emotional process and stages are most often indignant. They are now a “victim” and are either, extremely sad about their arrest and sure they are not guilty or they are extremely angry and are sure they are not guilty. There are few exceptions, much like the fact that the majority of people pulled over for DUI only report having two drinks, when asked.
The jail itself is well lit and very clean. The smell is of industrial cleaners, which from my time in the U.S. Navy, is a sign of lots of people living in very close proximity to each other. The walls are painted a brownish off white, which I am sure is meant for a calming effect on the inmates. The entry into the jail is a single room with padding, head height, on the walls. This is where the new arrivals, get strip searched and change into their jail uniform. Two heavily locked doors lead from this room, one into the Breathalyzer room, the other into the jail booking area. On this night, a 26 year old, illegal alien was in the Intox (breathalyzer) room on his 3rd DUI arrest. He was pleading his case that he had not been drinking and was being harassed. Officer Poore from the Nampa Police DUI STEP Task Force was called in to evaluate him. He was found to have been driving under the influence of Methamphetamine. During his strip search they found a large bag of methamphetamine hidden in his crotch between his testicles and anus. At this point he was absolutely positive, those weren’t his drugs and he had no idea who they belonged to or how they got there. Which was funny because in the booking area was a gal who had just been strip searched and the officers had found a paper cup folded around 23 pills of Norco Hydrocodone, which had been found under her right breast in her bra. She too, had no idea where they had come from and was positive the officer had put them in there to set her up.
The jail staff are now the subject of ire by most everyone at this point. They put the offenders through finger printing, drug and alcohol screening, showers, pictures and allow their phone calls with ease and integrity. They are constantly cussed at, ridiculed and insulted by the inmates and offenders. They maintain control and for the most part laugh off the verbal abuse. One guy had gotten out of hand was strapped to metal chair, in a locked room, facing the wall. He was on a two hour (or so) “time out”. There are various rooms around the booking area that lead to the main jail, and various rooms for the infamous (drunk tank) and people who are on suicide watch.
This portion of the DUI STEP Team is in sharp contrast to the excitement I felt in the ride-along with the patrol officers. The officers act as emotional counselors to a degree for the new inmates. They offer them food from the galley, allow them to make phone calls and stay on the phone as long as possible. The night I was there, one gal had been on the phone for almost two hours. The officers talk these people through their mood swings. They listen to what the inmates have to say about what is going and calmly reassure them. They are part counselor, part jailer, part parent and part friend. I was not prepared for this, especially knowing my brother. This interview with my brother and the walk through at the jail opens the possibility of several areas of research one could follow. What do officers do to handle their jobs mentally and emotionally? What is put into place in case of an uprising within the jail? What efforts are in place to ensure the inmates and the jailers are have a good working environment? I had questions on the number of inmates the jail had? How long a person may stay at the county jail before being transferred to a state prison? What complaints do inmates have against their jailers? I found this interview opened my eyes and surprised me as to what goes on within the jail. I am amazed at what the average, law-abiding citizen does not get to see and realized how much goes on behind the scenes, by the entire police force in an effort to maintain law and order.
While the DUI patrol was exciting and action packed, the jail is quite the opposite. By the time the DUI offender has gotten to the jail, they have gone through the entire emotional process and stages are most often indignant. They are now a “victim” and are either, extremely sad about their arrest and sure they are not guilty or they are extremely angry and are sure they are not guilty. There are few exceptions, much like the fact that the majority of people pulled over for DUI only report having two drinks, when asked.
The jail itself is well lit and very clean. The smell is of industrial cleaners, which from my time in the U.S. Navy, is a sign of lots of people living in very close proximity to each other. The walls are painted a brownish off white, which I am sure is meant for a calming effect on the inmates. The entry into the jail is a single room with padding, head height, on the walls. This is where the new arrivals, get strip searched and change into their jail uniform. Two heavily locked doors lead from this room, one into the Breathalyzer room, the other into the jail booking area. On this night, a 26 year old, illegal alien was in the Intox (breathalyzer) room on his 3rd DUI arrest. He was pleading his case that he had not been drinking and was being harassed. Officer Poore from the Nampa Police DUI STEP Task Force was called in to evaluate him. He was found to have been driving under the influence of Methamphetamine. During his strip search they found a large bag of methamphetamine hidden in his crotch between his testicles and anus. At this point he was absolutely positive, those weren’t his drugs and he had no idea who they belonged to or how they got there. Which was funny because in the booking area was a gal who had just been strip searched and the officers had found a paper cup folded around 23 pills of Norco Hydrocodone, which had been found under her right breast in her bra. She too, had no idea where they had come from and was positive the officer had put them in there to set her up.
The jail staff are now the subject of ire by most everyone at this point. They put the offenders through finger printing, drug and alcohol screening, showers, pictures and allow their phone calls with ease and integrity. They are constantly cussed at, ridiculed and insulted by the inmates and offenders. They maintain control and for the most part laugh off the verbal abuse. One guy had gotten out of hand was strapped to metal chair, in a locked room, facing the wall. He was on a two hour (or so) “time out”. There are various rooms around the booking area that lead to the main jail, and various rooms for the infamous (drunk tank) and people who are on suicide watch.
This portion of the DUI STEP Team is in sharp contrast to the excitement I felt in the ride-along with the patrol officers. The officers act as emotional counselors to a degree for the new inmates. They offer them food from the galley, allow them to make phone calls and stay on the phone as long as possible. The night I was there, one gal had been on the phone for almost two hours. The officers talk these people through their mood swings. They listen to what the inmates have to say about what is going and calmly reassure them. They are part counselor, part jailer, part parent and part friend. I was not prepared for this, especially knowing my brother. This interview with my brother and the walk through at the jail opens the possibility of several areas of research one could follow. What do officers do to handle their jobs mentally and emotionally? What is put into place in case of an uprising within the jail? What efforts are in place to ensure the inmates and the jailers are have a good working environment? I had questions on the number of inmates the jail had? How long a person may stay at the county jail before being transferred to a state prison? What complaints do inmates have against their jailers? I found this interview opened my eyes and surprised me as to what goes on within the jail. I am amazed at what the average, law-abiding citizen does not get to see and realized how much goes on behind the scenes, by the entire police force in an effort to maintain law and order.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Exploration 2
Now that I have my interviews done, I am able to see a difference in the different branches of military and time. My first interview was with my friend who has three young kids, and her husband was in the Army and is now in the Idaho National Guard as a Staff Sergeant. My second interview was with my aunt and she has been a military wife for nearly thirty years. Her husband has been in the Air Force since the beginning and is now a Lieutenant Colonel. Both of these women have had similar experiences but at the same time very different ones too. There are obvious differences between these branches. One that stuck out to me was that the Army does move a family more often than the Air Force. Army moves about every two years, while the Air Force moves around every four. I do think that up rooting a family would be one of the hardest trials to deal with.
I have found out that the main attribute with army wives is being independent, being able to stand on your own two feet with out having a husband around. Most women who can’t stand on their own do fall. That is what the Family Readiness Groups (FRG’s) are for. They help in pretty much every aspect of life that is needed when their husband is deployed. I also realized that there are many different types of support groups for the wives.
My aunt is one of the wives who made the decision together with her husband about him joining the military. Since they made that choice and he enlisted thirty years ago they have had eight children, and they have been fortunate enough to only move twice and he has only been deployed twice. Julianne did sound very humbled about the past few years, she is aware that she is one of the fortunate ones who haven’t had to move to different parts of the world. Her husband Matthew also made a bug effort to keep their family in the same area, only looking for the jobs in the area they have lived.
The communication has vastly improved throughout the years too. The soldiers maybe communicated once a month to their families and now can communicate everyday to their families. It is crazy to think that even a few years ago the soldiers weren’t able to text, or even have web camera to see their loved ones. As the technology improves in our country so does the communication for the soldiers.
Exploration 2
Since my last interview I have noticed some new observation in the probation community. I was observing probation officers in the state office and noticed probation officers greatly differ in attitude. I did my observation in the lobby of the state probation office. In the lobby I overheard offenders talking about a specific officer. They were talking about how nice she was. I was not really surprised by this, all of the officers I have met and interviewed so far have been nothing but nice. So when she opened the door and called for her offender I was expecting smiles and a warm welcome. What I saw was not a smile and far from a warm welcome. She was stern and cold. The officer came across as somewhat masculine when calling for her offender. After this encounter I noticed it was not just this officer who came across with a certain attitude. All female officers who came to call for their offender had a stern attitude. I noticed the male officers were smiling and not as stern when calling for their offenders.
This new bit of information has really altered what I wanted to focus on in my community. Are females in my community more harsh on there offenders? Is this attitude apart of the job? Do they teach women in probation to be more masculine? Is it just a front, or are they really as mean as they seem? How does this attitude affect offenders? Does the attitude change from state to federal probation officers? How often are female officers taken less serious because of their softer side? Does this tougher side really help? Does it give the officer more confidence when dealing with offenders? Why do males not have a similar attitude when dealing with offenders? Do women really act more masculine in traditional male roles? I never though about the attitudes of probation officers. What really interests me about this community is that they are nothing like what I thought. They are different in almost every aspect of what I was imagining.
I really need to find out why they have a specific attitude, And does it change in different situations. Through interviews and observations I plan to gain the information I need. I also plan to do research on women of authority. I really wish I would have noticed the differences between men and woman probation officers earlier in this project.It would have been nice to have more time to find new information.
This new bit of information has really altered what I wanted to focus on in my community. Are females in my community more harsh on there offenders? Is this attitude apart of the job? Do they teach women in probation to be more masculine? Is it just a front, or are they really as mean as they seem? How does this attitude affect offenders? Does the attitude change from state to federal probation officers? How often are female officers taken less serious because of their softer side? Does this tougher side really help? Does it give the officer more confidence when dealing with offenders? Why do males not have a similar attitude when dealing with offenders? Do women really act more masculine in traditional male roles? I never though about the attitudes of probation officers. What really interests me about this community is that they are nothing like what I thought. They are different in almost every aspect of what I was imagining.
I really need to find out why they have a specific attitude, And does it change in different situations. Through interviews and observations I plan to gain the information I need. I also plan to do research on women of authority. I really wish I would have noticed the differences between men and woman probation officers earlier in this project.It would have been nice to have more time to find new information.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Nampa Police STEP DUI Ride-along
I spent Saturday evening on February 27, 2009 in a ride-along with Nampa Police Officer Krohn. After briefing for his evening shift, Officer Krohn met me in the front lobby of the Nampa Police Station and gave me a tour of the Department. He explained the dispatch area, briefing and report areas, there are two areas for riot gear including a ballistic shield. He showed me the confinement area which had a couple of holding cells and a Breathalyzer machine. It also has a station set up for a blood draw, should the person in custody refuse to submit to a breathalyzer. He explained that a person can refuse to take the breathalyzer, but by law must then submit to a blood test.
After getting my background check done in dispatch and signing a waiver, we began our patrol. He drives an unmarked police unit. The interior of the car is comfortable but tight. Every possible spot in the car was outfitted and set up to hold gear, equipment and files. The car is equipped with forward and rear looking radars, a camera with DVD recording capability (used continuously), flashing lights, siren and light controls, a laptop, a driver license laser scanner, an e-ticket machine (install complete next week), a shotgun, a portable breathalyzer and various other items. Each item is stored neatly and conveniently for ease of access from the driver’s seat.
Officer Krohn took time to explain his background, his education, his job responsibilities and his feelings about various aspects of his job (i.e. DUI offenders and their punishments). We made a total of 10 stops or calls that night. Our first stop was a guy who seemed to speak very little English. He was pulled over for driving through town with his Hi-beams on, against oncoming traffic. He gave a false name to Officer Krohn, had no drivers license and no insurance. Officer Krohn had to spend extra time trying to figure out exactly who the guy was. He finally got his name and made the identification by running his plates and finding a picture in the database that resembled the driver. The driver was allowed to park his car and call someone to come pick him, his wife and their baby up. He was given citations for providing false information to an officer, no driver’s license and no insurance. Through the night we had only one stop where the individual had both, a driver’s license and insurance.
Officer Krohn explained how he averages about 200 DUI arrests annually (he has been on the DUI STEP Team for 3 years) and has had only 6 cases that have gone to jury trial and been dismissed. Those were dismissed despite the large amount of information showing the guilt of the offender. The night before my ride-along they made 7 DUI arrests. On the night I rode along there were two. The one he stopped was a gal in her early 40s who sped up to a stop sign and almost ran through it. She parked in a parking lot and he parked and walked up to her to talk to her. It was apparent to me that she had been drinking, but Officer Krohn assumed nothing. He gave her a series of field sobriety tests which she overwhelmingly failed. She was then given the portable breathalyzer at which point she blew a 0.14, twice in a row (0.08 is legally drunk). It is probably a good thing she only drank the two margaritas she admitted to, any more than that and her driving may have been impaired! I am amazed by two things, almost everyone who gets stopped for suspicion of DUI “only had two drinks”, and they “don’t think their driving is impaired”. During this stop and each stop, Officer Krohn fully and kindly explained to the person their rights, what was expected of them and what they should expect as a result (from paying a fine to going to jail). At no point did he get agitated by the stream of lies and disrespect for the law most offenders displayed. He is professional, respectful, thoughtful, kind and intelligent. He knows his job and the laws without question. You can tell he holds the community and our rights with high regard and does his job dutifully and without prejudice. The other officers I met that night are equally dedicated. The all have a great sense of humor and make you feel at ease with their joking back and forth and friendly competition they have between each other. I spent 7 hours on patrol with Officer Krohn, it seemed more like one. The ride-along gave me a vast amount of information for my research, but more importantly, I walked away excited by what I had seen. I came away with a new found respect for the officers who serve in the City of Nampa, thankful for their service and dedication and a pride that we have such representatives within our community.
After getting my background check done in dispatch and signing a waiver, we began our patrol. He drives an unmarked police unit. The interior of the car is comfortable but tight. Every possible spot in the car was outfitted and set up to hold gear, equipment and files. The car is equipped with forward and rear looking radars, a camera with DVD recording capability (used continuously), flashing lights, siren and light controls, a laptop, a driver license laser scanner, an e-ticket machine (install complete next week), a shotgun, a portable breathalyzer and various other items. Each item is stored neatly and conveniently for ease of access from the driver’s seat.
Officer Krohn took time to explain his background, his education, his job responsibilities and his feelings about various aspects of his job (i.e. DUI offenders and their punishments). We made a total of 10 stops or calls that night. Our first stop was a guy who seemed to speak very little English. He was pulled over for driving through town with his Hi-beams on, against oncoming traffic. He gave a false name to Officer Krohn, had no drivers license and no insurance. Officer Krohn had to spend extra time trying to figure out exactly who the guy was. He finally got his name and made the identification by running his plates and finding a picture in the database that resembled the driver. The driver was allowed to park his car and call someone to come pick him, his wife and their baby up. He was given citations for providing false information to an officer, no driver’s license and no insurance. Through the night we had only one stop where the individual had both, a driver’s license and insurance.
Officer Krohn explained how he averages about 200 DUI arrests annually (he has been on the DUI STEP Team for 3 years) and has had only 6 cases that have gone to jury trial and been dismissed. Those were dismissed despite the large amount of information showing the guilt of the offender. The night before my ride-along they made 7 DUI arrests. On the night I rode along there were two. The one he stopped was a gal in her early 40s who sped up to a stop sign and almost ran through it. She parked in a parking lot and he parked and walked up to her to talk to her. It was apparent to me that she had been drinking, but Officer Krohn assumed nothing. He gave her a series of field sobriety tests which she overwhelmingly failed. She was then given the portable breathalyzer at which point she blew a 0.14, twice in a row (0.08 is legally drunk). It is probably a good thing she only drank the two margaritas she admitted to, any more than that and her driving may have been impaired! I am amazed by two things, almost everyone who gets stopped for suspicion of DUI “only had two drinks”, and they “don’t think their driving is impaired”. During this stop and each stop, Officer Krohn fully and kindly explained to the person their rights, what was expected of them and what they should expect as a result (from paying a fine to going to jail). At no point did he get agitated by the stream of lies and disrespect for the law most offenders displayed. He is professional, respectful, thoughtful, kind and intelligent. He knows his job and the laws without question. You can tell he holds the community and our rights with high regard and does his job dutifully and without prejudice. The other officers I met that night are equally dedicated. The all have a great sense of humor and make you feel at ease with their joking back and forth and friendly competition they have between each other. I spent 7 hours on patrol with Officer Krohn, it seemed more like one. The ride-along gave me a vast amount of information for my research, but more importantly, I walked away excited by what I had seen. I came away with a new found respect for the officers who serve in the City of Nampa, thankful for their service and dedication and a pride that we have such representatives within our community.
Monday, March 1, 2010
During my first observation I went on a ride along with an officer from the Boise Police Department (BPD).As we started out on patrol we soon got a call for a shop lifter at a local Wal-Mart. We drove there and met the loss prevention supervisor at the front door who then lead us the office that the offender was being held in. The officer talked to the supervisor separately from the offender to get her side of the story and also to review the security tapes. He didn’t really ask a lot of questions just got the information. Next he talked to the offender to get her side of the story. After the offender finished her side of the story and saying that she just forgot to pay and walked out by mistake the officer asked her a lot of question. He asked everything from the kind of car he drove to the type of things she was shopping for and how much money she had with her. He also asked about any addiction that she may have or if she is in a lot of debt. He finished with where she works and what type of work is it. At the end he read her her rights and arrested her and put her in the back of his squad car. On the way to jail she got really emotional and apologized many times but stood by her story that it was all a misunderstanding but the officer wasn’t buying it. As we pulled up to the jail she finally confessed that she always had the intention of steeling and the officer booked her into the jail on the charge of felony robbery. As he took her into the jail I had to wait outside because I wasn’t allowed to go into the jail for safety reasons. Also for safety the officer had to remove any all things on his person that is or could be used as a weapon.
After that was all done the officer and I got back into the car and went back on patrol. I heard a lot of different codes and direction for other officers over the radio in the car that police use to communicate with each other and with dispatch. We drove through the Boise bench are just looking and waiting for something to do. We then stopped in a parking lot to talk with another officer. The 2 officers talked about a drug case that they are working on together and the progress that they are making in this case. I was asked not to write anything down during this period of time in order to preserve the integrity and privacy of the case.
The last thing we did and I observed in the 2 hours I was with this officer was as he drove me back to the station was the reaction of the other drivers on the road when we passed them All the other drivers seemed to be driving extra carefully in fear of getting pulled over. I found it funny but I could tell that the officer was annoyed by this. I asked him why and I was surprised by his response. He said that it annoys him because he rarely writes tickets and it bugs him when everyone around him is all paranoid for no reason at all. He works the swing shift and lets the cops that work the day shift to be the ticket writers.
After that was all done the officer and I got back into the car and went back on patrol. I heard a lot of different codes and direction for other officers over the radio in the car that police use to communicate with each other and with dispatch. We drove through the Boise bench are just looking and waiting for something to do. We then stopped in a parking lot to talk with another officer. The 2 officers talked about a drug case that they are working on together and the progress that they are making in this case. I was asked not to write anything down during this period of time in order to preserve the integrity and privacy of the case.
The last thing we did and I observed in the 2 hours I was with this officer was as he drove me back to the station was the reaction of the other drivers on the road when we passed them All the other drivers seemed to be driving extra carefully in fear of getting pulled over. I found it funny but I could tell that the officer was annoyed by this. I asked him why and I was surprised by his response. He said that it annoys him because he rarely writes tickets and it bugs him when everyone around him is all paranoid for no reason at all. He works the swing shift and lets the cops that work the day shift to be the ticket writers.
Exploration 1
Through my research and interviews I have learned that being a military wife is a way of life. Military wives need to have some very specific qualities enable to endure through the service of her husband. Some of the qualities that have been said numerous times in my project is strength and self reliant. A wife needs to be strong physically, mentally and emotionally. If she doesn’t have all three of these qualities it can and most likely will make the situation harder than it already is. The one interview that I have done is a wife of a husband currently serving in the Idaho National Guard. I could tell by the way she answered the questions that she is very humble, she was not afraid to tell me what the good and the bad things that come with being married to a man in the service. One thing that did surprise me was when I asked her how she stayed positive and happy throughout tough times. Her answer made sense I just never really thought about it, she said that time to herself. She has three kids, and though she knows they come first, she also made it clear that if she doesn’t get time herself it is easy to get lost in the fear, stress, and emotion.
I did find out that I was using the wrong term for the military support group. They don’t call them that any more. Ever since 9/11 the focus of the families is readiness. They are getting them ready for deployment, employment, and just the process of having a spouse on active duty. The title changed to a more positive and realistic one so the families can be educated on what will and might happen. In my observations I have been surprised that one of the classes gives them ways of how to communicate right. But it isn’t just communication with the spouse it is with every one. I never really thought about the media playing such a big deal with military wives. As the instructor made clear that if a wife says the wrong thing, or too much information it has the possibility to ruin a mission and put numerous lives in danger. Knowing how to communicate is key.
I want to find out the different point of views of older women who made the decision with their husband about joining the military. It also interests me on how the family readiness groups have changed.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
exploration 1
While doing my interviews I noticed a few similarities and differences. The probation officers (PO’s) I interviewed were polite, well spoken, and well dressed. They both shared a genuine concern for the well being of their offenders. Which I found to be a bit surprising, I figured working with the worst of society would bring you down but not for these guys. They actually enjoy their work. They look forward to helping rehabilitate the offenders, and help put there life back together.
Not every individual can handle an occupation like this. There is something unique about PO’s, which allows them to posses a quality of understanding and forgiveness. Now what I found interesting about PO’s, is not that they like the variety of different cases, but that they actually have cases they don’t like to work. Each PO is different in what cases they don’t care for. For instance, one PO doesn’t care for anti government offenders. They seem to have a negative out look on probation as a whole. This PO also said that it’s really never the cases but the attitude of the offender that makes a case difficult. Even when I’m asking a negative question they still have a positive answer. Not one of them would straight out say I don’t like theses people. It’s there attitudes they don’t like. How do they do it? Their job is built around negative clients and they continuously find the good. I want to know what makes PO’s so understanding. I wonder if a certain type of person is drawn to this career, or is it just a coincidence that most PO’s are genuinely concerned with the well being of others.
Along with the differences, they also have similarities. I asked both PO’s what they consider to be a flaw in their system. They each gave different answers but both had one in common. Funding was an obvious issue for the federal PO’s. As a group Po’s agreed that funding is miss spent, and other uses would be more appropriate.
I’m going to do more observations to get an accurate view on PO’s. Also, I need more back ground information to really understand how Probation started. I’m hoping the history can relate to the modern day PO. I have come across one problem I knew I would. Since my community has a government affiliation, their responses to my questions are not the whole truth. The Po’s tend to re-word things that sound more appealing, like taking their time to word something, so it doesn’t come out to harsh or rude. It’s not in their best interest to bad mouth the hand that feeds them. I do understand where there coming from, it just makes my research more difficult.
Not every individual can handle an occupation like this. There is something unique about PO’s, which allows them to posses a quality of understanding and forgiveness. Now what I found interesting about PO’s, is not that they like the variety of different cases, but that they actually have cases they don’t like to work. Each PO is different in what cases they don’t care for. For instance, one PO doesn’t care for anti government offenders. They seem to have a negative out look on probation as a whole. This PO also said that it’s really never the cases but the attitude of the offender that makes a case difficult. Even when I’m asking a negative question they still have a positive answer. Not one of them would straight out say I don’t like theses people. It’s there attitudes they don’t like. How do they do it? Their job is built around negative clients and they continuously find the good. I want to know what makes PO’s so understanding. I wonder if a certain type of person is drawn to this career, or is it just a coincidence that most PO’s are genuinely concerned with the well being of others.
Along with the differences, they also have similarities. I asked both PO’s what they consider to be a flaw in their system. They each gave different answers but both had one in common. Funding was an obvious issue for the federal PO’s. As a group Po’s agreed that funding is miss spent, and other uses would be more appropriate.
I’m going to do more observations to get an accurate view on PO’s. Also, I need more back ground information to really understand how Probation started. I’m hoping the history can relate to the modern day PO. I have come across one problem I knew I would. Since my community has a government affiliation, their responses to my questions are not the whole truth. The Po’s tend to re-word things that sound more appealing, like taking their time to word something, so it doesn’t come out to harsh or rude. It’s not in their best interest to bad mouth the hand that feeds them. I do understand where there coming from, it just makes my research more difficult.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Friday night at Iowa 80
I was surpised by the at gunpoint robberies that happen at truck stops. Surpised that truck drivers police each other however, nothing was mentioned of what was done within the community to stop the robberies. I was intrigued by the closed and suspicious community the trucker lives in. they feel like outcasts of society to some degree, yet they have a hard time letting people into their world. I was disturbed by the amount of government regualtion at such a tilted scale, especially with the gas taxes and emission issues. The trucker gets hit with all these while the farmer gets a break.
In the reading Iowa 80, nothing surprised me. I have worked in and around truck and trucker most of my adult life. I would have to say the trucker that didn't really trust him at first. But at the end found out that he was ok. What disturbed me the most is how a lot of the trucker were willing to lie so easily in their log books just to make a buck.
Friday Night at Iowa 80
What surprised me about the reading was how friendly the truckers were and how willing they were to talk. What intrigued was the truck stop itself. It reminds of one that was nearby where I grew up and had a lot of similarities. What disturbed me was some of the legal issues the truckers have to deal with.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Iowa 80
The part that i found to be most interesting was the old trucker in the green shirt on page 37. I liked how at first he wanted nothing to do with an interview but after he felt comfortable with
Thomas he really opened up and revealed a lot about himself.
The part that surprised me the most was that the lady named Bea on page 37 and 38whose husband got into an accident caused by a drunk driver and then got fired. I was surprised that even tho the husband was broken up about losing his job she was happy that he got fired and sent a thank you note to the company.
Thomas he really opened up and revealed a lot about himself.
The part that surprised me the most was that the lady named Bea on page 37 and 38whose husband got into an accident caused by a drunk driver and then got fired. I was surprised that even tho the husband was broken up about losing his job she was happy that he got fired and sent a thank you note to the company.
Friday Night at Iowa 80- Response
The thing that surprised me most was how a violation for a logbook varies in the states. In Nebraska it's a fine of $70 then in California it's $1500.
What intrigued me was the different rules and regulations truckers have.
It disturbed me how Bea's husband was fired after 5 years for a accident that was caused by a drunk driver.
What intrigued me was the different rules and regulations truckers have.
It disturbed me how Bea's husband was fired after 5 years for a accident that was caused by a drunk driver.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Artifact
The artifact I chose was their clothing. They altered store bought clothes to fit their individual style or beliefs even within their subculture. They could use stencils to paint thoughts, beliefs, sayings, etc. onto their t-shirts, pants and jackets. One thing I remember specifically from that time was strong majority of them wore the "A" with a circle around it, promoting anarchy. You could not exactly find t-shirts with that insignia on them in those days.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Artifact
The artifact I chose is their t-shirts. I think it's interesting to read how they made an ordinary t-shirt their very own by using a stencil and spray paint. They could make a shirt say whatever they wanted. To me that says they are resourceful with wanting to stay in the "punk" trend but by being totally original to their own style too.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Inside Connection
My inside connection is my friend Brook who is a military wife and is also raising a family. Her husband has been deployed to Iraq and is currently stationed here in Boise.
Inside Contact
My insider connection/contact is my oldest brother Chuck. He is a Sargent with the Canyon County Sheriffs Department. One of his many responsibilities include calibration and maitnenance of all area toxicology machines.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
