INTRODUCTION

Adult and Juvenile Probation, Parole, and Community Corrections officers are routinely exposed to hazardous situations in the performance of their duties. However, unlike law enforcement personnel, a repository for statistics regarding hazardous duty incidents does not currently exist for Parole, Probation and Community Corrections Officers. While various agencies, organizations and individuals have attempted to collect such information, as corrections agencies are not required to collect and/or submit hazardous duty information, a true picture of the types and extent of hazardous duty incidents cannot be compiled.

POSITION
The American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) considers the safety of Parole and Probation Officers of utmost importance and recommends that all probation and parole agencies have programs in place for the collection of hazardous duty statistics.

RECOMMENDED ACTION

APPA recommends that each probation and parole agency establish a process for the collection of hazardous duty statistics annually, and should include the following categories:

Animal Attack – list type of animal and any injury sustained by officer

Armed Attack- list type of weapon used, distance of attacker from officer, time of day, and location of attack. i.e., office, field, offenders residence.
Assaults-list type of weapon used including personal weapons (i.e., fist, open hand, feet, etc.)
Attempted Assaults
Auto Accidents-list any injuries incurred
Auto Vandalism
Bomb Threats
Bomb Attack
Communicable Disease Exposure-list type of communicable disease
Direct Threat to Officer
Hazardous Chemical Exposure-list type and location of exposure
Hostage Situation
Intimidation by individual
Intimidation by two of more individuals
Indirect Threat-list method used to make threat, i.e., phone, letter, verbal, etc.
Murder of Officer-list method and location of murder and as much background information regarding assailant(s) as possible
Office Vandalism-list type of vandalism and items taken
Robbery of Officer
Use of Force by Officer-list type of force used, circumstances of use, i.e., arrest, home contact, office contact, etc., any type of weapon or instrument used by officer, information regarding person on which force was used, and any injury to officer or person being subdued
Other-provide details

Each agency should include an agency contact person that will be available for follow-up contact if needed.

For more information about APPA position statements, please contact APPA staff at:

E Mail: appa@csg.org
Phone: 859-244-8203
Fax: 859-244-8001
Mail: American Probation and Parole Association
c/o Council of State Governments
P.O. Box 11910
Lexington, KY 40578-1910