CSO TRAINING QUESTIONS
List55855ways55which55documentation55may55be55used?55-55answer--A55-
55identify55potential55problems55which55officers55or55agency55professionals55may55encou
nter55as55they55work55with55the55probationer.55
B55-55Provide55information55upon55which55other55may55act
C-55Provide55information55to55the55Court.55
D-55Justify55actions55taken55by55ourselves55and55others.55
E-55Identify55change55in55status
F-55Make55Recommendations55to55others55(supervisors,55treatment55providers)
G-55Formally55document55information55or55events
H-55Make55a55request55of55the55Court55or55Supervisor
1455principles55of55good55documentations55-55answer--155-
55Documentation55should55be55completed55ASAP55after55the55event.55
2-55All55entries55must55be55dated.55
3-55Keep55your55documentation55brief55and55to55the55point
4-55Do55not55back55date55an55entry
5-55Document55all55telephone55calls55and55collateral55contacts55relevant55to55the55case.
6-55Use55only55approved55abbreviations55and55acronyms.55
557-55Include55only55factual55information
8-Never55delete55an55existing55electronic55entry.55
9-
55When55handwriting55an55entry55do55not55scratch55out,55erase,55or55use55white55out.55
10-55If55handwriting55use55black55or55blue55ink.55
11-55Sign55all55entries55either55by55hand55or55electronically.55
12-55If55filling55out55forms55do55not55leave55blank55spaces.55
13-
55When55documenting55know55and55follow55the55polices55and55procedures55of55your55de
partment.55
14-If55handwriting55write55legibly.
855reasons55why55well55kept55chronological55recordings55are55important?55-55answer--1-
55Court55expectations
2-55Case55Management
3-55CJAD55Standards
4-55Accountability55to55the55public
5-55Internal55Case55Audits
, 6-55Other55Officers
7-55Legal55Liability
8-55Probationer55deserves55accurate55account55of55progress.
355examples55of55information55which55should55be55documents55in55Chronological55recor
dings?55-55answer--1-55Basic55Information55
2-55Significant55Events55
3-55Assessments55and55Interventions
remember55to55answer55who,55what,55when,55where,55how55and55why
955advantages55of55using55a55problem55oriented55record55keeping55system55(PDAP).55-
55answer--1-55Meets55the55requirements55of55CJAD55Case55management55System
2-55Is55more55efficient55and55saves55time
3-55Helps55maintain55consistency55between55officers55and55their55departments.55
4-55Keeps55records55uniform
5-55Helps55maintain55objectivity
6-Keeps55record55uniform
7-
55Gives55document55writer55direction55by55focusing55on55the55problems55and55solutions.5
5
8-55Ensures55accountability55for55CSO55and55probationer55alike
9-55Records55progress55or55lack55or55progress55on55the55case55plan.
Define55the55purpose55of55the55PSI?55-55answer--
The55primary55purpose55of55the55PSI55is55to55present55the55sentencing55judge55with55inf
ormation55to55consider55about55the55offender's55life55and55character.
List55555secondary55purposes55of55the55PSI?55-55answer--1-
55Gives55the55CSCD55some55input55into55the55decision55of55what55will55happen55to55an55
offender55once55he55is55placed55on55community55supervision.55
2-
55Provides55the55supervision55officer55with55a55base55of55information55that55makes55his55
supervision55of55the55offender55more55effective.55
3-55Assists55the55Correctional55Institutions55Division55in55Classification.55
4-Assists55the55Parole55Board55in55the55Parole55decision55making55process.55
5-55Provides55information55to55assist55other55residential55programs.
355major55procedures55in55the55PSI55preparation?55-55answer--1-
55Obtaining55and55reviewing55reports55and55records55
2-55Interviewing55offenders55and55relevant55parties
3-55Organizing55information55and55compiling55the55report.
Identify55655PSI55content55areas55required55by55law?55-55answer--1-
Circumstances55of55the55offense
2-55Amount55of55restitution
355Criminal55History
4-55Social55History
List55855ways55which55documentation55may55be55used?55-55answer--A55-
55identify55potential55problems55which55officers55or55agency55professionals55may55encou
nter55as55they55work55with55the55probationer.55
B55-55Provide55information55upon55which55other55may55act
C-55Provide55information55to55the55Court.55
D-55Justify55actions55taken55by55ourselves55and55others.55
E-55Identify55change55in55status
F-55Make55Recommendations55to55others55(supervisors,55treatment55providers)
G-55Formally55document55information55or55events
H-55Make55a55request55of55the55Court55or55Supervisor
1455principles55of55good55documentations55-55answer--155-
55Documentation55should55be55completed55ASAP55after55the55event.55
2-55All55entries55must55be55dated.55
3-55Keep55your55documentation55brief55and55to55the55point
4-55Do55not55back55date55an55entry
5-55Document55all55telephone55calls55and55collateral55contacts55relevant55to55the55case.
6-55Use55only55approved55abbreviations55and55acronyms.55
557-55Include55only55factual55information
8-Never55delete55an55existing55electronic55entry.55
9-
55When55handwriting55an55entry55do55not55scratch55out,55erase,55or55use55white55out.55
10-55If55handwriting55use55black55or55blue55ink.55
11-55Sign55all55entries55either55by55hand55or55electronically.55
12-55If55filling55out55forms55do55not55leave55blank55spaces.55
13-
55When55documenting55know55and55follow55the55polices55and55procedures55of55your55de
partment.55
14-If55handwriting55write55legibly.
855reasons55why55well55kept55chronological55recordings55are55important?55-55answer--1-
55Court55expectations
2-55Case55Management
3-55CJAD55Standards
4-55Accountability55to55the55public
5-55Internal55Case55Audits
, 6-55Other55Officers
7-55Legal55Liability
8-55Probationer55deserves55accurate55account55of55progress.
355examples55of55information55which55should55be55documents55in55Chronological55recor
dings?55-55answer--1-55Basic55Information55
2-55Significant55Events55
3-55Assessments55and55Interventions
remember55to55answer55who,55what,55when,55where,55how55and55why
955advantages55of55using55a55problem55oriented55record55keeping55system55(PDAP).55-
55answer--1-55Meets55the55requirements55of55CJAD55Case55management55System
2-55Is55more55efficient55and55saves55time
3-55Helps55maintain55consistency55between55officers55and55their55departments.55
4-55Keeps55records55uniform
5-55Helps55maintain55objectivity
6-Keeps55record55uniform
7-
55Gives55document55writer55direction55by55focusing55on55the55problems55and55solutions.5
5
8-55Ensures55accountability55for55CSO55and55probationer55alike
9-55Records55progress55or55lack55or55progress55on55the55case55plan.
Define55the55purpose55of55the55PSI?55-55answer--
The55primary55purpose55of55the55PSI55is55to55present55the55sentencing55judge55with55inf
ormation55to55consider55about55the55offender's55life55and55character.
List55555secondary55purposes55of55the55PSI?55-55answer--1-
55Gives55the55CSCD55some55input55into55the55decision55of55what55will55happen55to55an55
offender55once55he55is55placed55on55community55supervision.55
2-
55Provides55the55supervision55officer55with55a55base55of55information55that55makes55his55
supervision55of55the55offender55more55effective.55
3-55Assists55the55Correctional55Institutions55Division55in55Classification.55
4-Assists55the55Parole55Board55in55the55Parole55decision55making55process.55
5-55Provides55information55to55assist55other55residential55programs.
355major55procedures55in55the55PSI55preparation?55-55answer--1-
55Obtaining55and55reviewing55reports55and55records55
2-55Interviewing55offenders55and55relevant55parties
3-55Organizing55information55and55compiling55the55report.
Identify55655PSI55content55areas55required55by55law?55-55answer--1-
Circumstances55of55the55offense
2-55Amount55of55restitution
355Criminal55History
4-55Social55History
