History Appendix E: NY Times Editorial 1965 From The New York Times, Sunday, August 29, 1965: PATRONAGE AND PROBATION A big part of the sharp national rise in crime is caused by the repeater - the ex-convict who becomes a second, third, fourth offender, ad infinitum. The best single antidote lies in effective probation officers, whose mission it is to keep crime from becoming a way of life for those released from jail. Attorney General Katzenbach now plans to raise the caliber of the Federal probation service by taking its officers out of the patronage category and putting them into a career system embodying uniform standards of professional excellence. The more than 500 probation officers throughout the nation are currently appointed by Federal district judges; they may be selected for ability or simply because they are considered deserving of political favor. The probation officer must be Dutch uncle, friendly adviser, guardian angel. He must have patience, understanding and a seasoned knowledge of applied psychology. These requirements will best be met if the probationary system is rid of politics and staffed by trained professionals.
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