THE PROFESSIONAL AUTONOMY OF PROBATION OFFICERS AS A KEY RESOURCE FOR THE RESOCIALIZATION OF ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Introduction. This article examines the issue of transforming the probation service in the context of reforming Ukraine’s law enforcement system and wartime society. It highlights the need to rethink the role of the probation officer as a key agent in the resocialization of adolescents in conflict with the law, taking into account digitalization, interagency cooperation, and the increasing complexity of forms of adolescent delinquency. Purpose and objectives of the article is to provide a theoretical justification for the professional autonomy of probation officers as a fundamental condition for the effective resocialization of adolescents and to demonstrate the need to transform the criteria for evaluating probation activities from formal-bureaucratic indicators to qualitative indicators of social well-being. The scientific novelty lies in conceptualizing the professional autonomy of probation officers as a subjective resource for resocialization, substantiating the phenomenon of “professional resistance” as a constructive strategy for protecting the child’s interests, and developing an approach to evaluating the effectiveness of probation based on multidimensional qualitative indicators. The study proposes interpreting the probation officer’s activities as a form of social engineering and “social shaping” of the adolescent’s personality. Research Methods. The study employed a range of theoretical methods: analysis and synthesis of scientific literature, regulatory and legal acts, and analytical materials; comparative analysis of international experience (in particular, the Norwegian and Estonian probation models); and systematic and conceptual analysis to substantiate the author’s approaches to the professional activities of probation officers. Results. It has been demonstrated that the effectiveness of juvenile probation directly depends on the level of professional autonomy of the officer, their capacity for ethical judgment, and interagency coordination. The necessity of transitioning to a person-centered model of probation has been substantiated, which entails reducing bureaucratic burdens, introducing digital tools, and focusing on qualitative indicators of adolescents’ social well-being. It has been established that modern probation is transforming into a serviceoriented support system aimed at restoring social ties and ensuring sustainable positive changes in the individual.