Effects of a Competency-Based Counseling Training Program for Correctional Officers

• Author: Karen Jye-Ru Jiang,Peter Jen Der Pan,Shih-Hua Chang
• Published date: 01 December 2008
• Date: 01 December 2008
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X07309368
• Subject Matter: Articles

722

International Journal of

Offender Therapy and

Comparative Criminology

Volume 52 Number 6

December 2008 722-735

© 2008 Sage Publications

10.1177/0306624X07309368

http://ijo.sagepub.com

hosted at

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Effects of a Competency-Based

Counseling Training Program

for Correctional Officers

Peter Jen Der Pan

Shih-Hua Chang

Karen Jye-Ru Jiang

Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung Li, Taiwan

The purposes of this study were (a) to determine whether a competency-based counseling

training program can be effective in developing the counseling skills of correctional officers

with diverse backgrounds and (b) to examine if participants would demonstrate positive

changes in counseling skills regardless of their differences among a variety of demographic

variables. One hundred and six correctional officers were selected to participate in this

study. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were applied for collecting and

analyzing data. The results indicate that the participants’counseling skills were significantly

improved. Because the participants demonstrated positive changes in their overall coun-

seling skills, the present research further supports no significant difference among a variety

of variables. The training program also brought out deeper reflection on the significant

learning experiences, greater theoretical knowledge, as well as greater understanding of

the counseling work for the participants.

Keywords: competency-based counseling training program; correctional officer;

counseling skill

Because of the education-oriented criminal policy adopted by the Taiwanese

government, correctional treatment specialists need to be well trained, with ade-

quate professional skills and knowledge (Ministry of Justice, 2004). In response to

the new needs and changes in correctional work, the correctional system has had to

alter its traditional strategies and actions (Hwang, 2003). Hence, a better tailoring of

services to meet criminal offenders’ needs is expected, which demands for counseling

Authors’Note: Peter Jen Der Pan is a senior professor in the College of Humanities and Education. Shih-Hua

Chang is the director of the Student Counseling Center, and Karen Jye-Ru Jiang is a licensed counseling

psychologist. We wish to express our deepest appreciation to H. Y. Judy Hwang, correctional counselor,

for her assistance with data collection. We would also like to thank Y. Z. Wong, Jenny S. S. Yuan, and

Wendy S. Y. Yu for their contributions to this study. Please address correspondence to Peter Jen Der Pan,

College of Humanities and Education at Chung Yuan Christian University,200 Chung Pei Road, Chung

Li, Taiwan; e-mail: jender@cycu.edu.tw.