Alphabe-Thursday

For letter J, I went with Juvenile Court.  Why you ask?

After I graduated from high school, my friend insists that I called her up one day and said "Let's go jobbin".  Yes, she said, I said "jobbin".  Just so you know, I don't remember using that term but she has a mind like a steel trap unlike me so I defer to her better memory ;-)

Anyhow, from what I remember ;-), another friend of ours worked downtown at Juvenile Court and told us they were hiring.  We went there to apply.  We both got jobs.  She was going to work in the personnel department and I was put in one of two steno pools.  We never did any stenography but I assume at one time they did, thus the name and they just never changed it.

In my office we had to type up reports for the judges.  The probation officers would dictate into Dictaphones their findings regarding whatever the child was being brought in for and then a family history.  We had to put little ear phones in and type as we listened.  We typed on MANUAL typewriters.  We had to use that little white tapey stuff to make corrections.  Boy, was that a pain.  Also, some of the PO's (probation officers) were late in turning in their stuff.  We would be jammed with so many reports to do some times,  we were finishing up right until the deadline of court. I remember also at times,  them coming to me and dictating verbally to me while I typed.  Sometimes they would even come to us about different things that we had to work out with them about different case things.  Talk about stress.  It was very interesting though learning about each kids family history and stuff.

Occasionally, if they needed extra help I would go downstairs and answer phones.  If they didn't answer I would have to page them or take messages.  I loved doing this it was a lot less stressful.  Also, when people came to pick up their messages we could joke around a lot.

Working there was the first time I ever saw someone with a studded nose ring.  This is not unusual now but this was in the 70's.  I think she was a woman before her time LOL.

Also this was a time of sexual harassment.  Although we didn't know that term at the time.  We just knew there were certain people we stayed away from because we considered them jerks.

At that time, I would say most of the PO's were men.  Most were very nice.  I worked there probably for about 7 or 8 years.  I remember how disturbed I became when the PO's that were coming in were starting to be younger than me.  It was an eye opener - even though I was still young.

My supervisor got bumped upstairs when that supervisor left and I was put in charge.  It was then I realized, I wasn't boss material.  I didn't have it in me to tell people what to do.  I still don't - except for my husband.  Probably about a year or so later I quit.

I really enjoyed working there. I did meet a lot of really nice people.   Shortly, before I left we got electric typewriters and it was hard for me to learn.  I suppose now they would have computers.  I bet they are joyful that they don't have to use manual or electric typewriters.  I know I would have been jubilant.

I wish I could juxtapose the PO's now and see if they are much more jaded.  With all the problems kids have nowadays, I'm sure it is more difficult than it used to be.  I'm also sure their caseloads are a lot bigger also.

Go over to Jenny's and see what others used for their J word  http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2010/03/alphabe-thursday-j.html