Because They’re Not “Parolees” So Much As They Are Our Clients From Whom We Should Be Getting More Feedback About How Well We Are Serving Them

Parole officers argue that Total Quality Management techniques aren’t necessarily applicable to every work environment:

A detailed questionnaire that allows felons to judge the performance of their parole officers has the officers up in arms, claiming the ex-jailbirds are in no position to evaluate their work.
The survey, a rough draft of which was obtained by The Post, asks ex-convicts about their employment status, drug use, living arrangements and how well their parole officers work with them — a query that makes the officers livid.

“Do you know what a field day these violent felons, these vicious criminals are going to have?” asked an incredulous Parole Officer Manuelita Clemente, a council leader with Division 236 of the Public Employees Federation.

. . .

According to law-enforcement sources, the questionnaire was e-mailed to regional directors and area supervisors from parole administrators in Albany late last week.

Sources also said the opinion polls will be distributed in waiting rooms of parole facilities, allowing ex-cons to fill the sheets out before their visits with the officers.

. . .

Among the queries that have parole officers steamed are: “My parole officer cared whether I completed parole . . . yes or no” and “Was the parole officer very interested in your problems on a scale of 1 (no) to 5 (yes).”

“I am not supposed to be interested in them; my job is to supervise them,” said one parole boss who found that question particularly offensive.