“You Have to Have the Right People … ”: Considerations for Men Probation Officers with Gender-Responsive Caseloads

Gender-responsive supervision tailors the evidence-based principles of effective intervention to women by emphasizing their gendered experiences, strengths, and needs. Because of this, a common question when working with agencies to implement gender-responsive practices is: Can men work with justice-involved women utilizing a gender-responsive approach? This question brings up some critical and under-researched considerations surrounding the gendered dynamics of probation officers (POs) who engage in gender-responsive practices. The current study is the first to explore the gendered implications of men POs engaging in gender-responsive supervision with an all-women caseload. Interviews with staff and clients at a gender-responsive probation unit in a Western state provide first-hand accounts of client and staff perceptions and experiences surrounding men POs engaging in gender-responsive probation. Themes indicated that men POs positively impacted women on their caseload when they utilized gender-responsive and trauma-informed approaches–suggesting that it is more about one’s skills and capabilities to engage in gender-responsive practices than their gender. Nevertheless, interviews highlighted gender-specific nuances among POs, revealing strengths and challenges associated with gendered experiences of holding a gender-responsive caseload. This study addresses practical implications, acknowledges limitations, and recommends future research directions to explore this understudied area and advance the literature on gender-responsive practices.