The probation officer's recommendation in his investigation report

Abstract Our purpose in this study was to review empirically the Israeli probation officer's recommendation in his “investigation report” concerning offenders of the 18-21 year age group. We studied the factors influencing the probation officer's recommending probation vs. refraining from a probation recommendation. The research variables were based on the following four models: the “diagnostic-rehabilitation” model, the “prognostic-public defense” model, the “organizational” model, and the “conflict” model. Our findings did not verify the diagnostic-rehabilitation hypothesis, though special legal and structural arrangements have been made in Israel for this age group in order to facilitate the rehabilitation of those belonging to it. The conflict model hypothesis was verified to only a limited degree. Our findings indicated the predominance of the prognostic-public defense model hypothesis and also of the organizational model hypothesis.