NCJ Number
49861
Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OFFENDER THERAPY Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (1967) Pages: 63-67
Date Published
1967
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A PROGRAM WHERE CERTAIN TRAINED PAROLEES HELP OTHER PAROLEES TO ADJUST TO SOCIETY IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
IN THE PROGRAM DESCRIBED, OLDER JUVENILE PAROLEES ARE ASKED TO ACT AS VOLUNTEERS AND TO BEFRIEND SPECIALLY CHOSEN YOUNG DELINQUENTS. IT IS BELIEVED THAT BY IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES WITH THE EXPERIENCES OF A YOUNGER OFFENDER IN A HELPING ROLE, THE PAROLEES IN THE PROGRAM NOT ONLY PROVIDE TANGIBLE HELP TO ANOTHER PERSON, BUT GAIN INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF THEMSELVES WHILE DEVELOPING AN IMAGE OF THEMSELVES AS BEING RESPONSIBLE AND OF VALUE. METHODS OF PSYCHODRAMA ARE USED IN TRAINING THE PAROLEES WHO ARE TO SERVE AS HELPERS. IN THE PSYCHODRAMAS, THEY ACT THE ROLES OF THE DEFENDANT, PARENT, JUDGE, STATE ATTORNEY, LAWYER FOR THE DEFENSE, PAROLE OFFICER, AND TEACHER, IN ORDER TO BECOME AWARE OF ALL ASPECTS OF THE SITUATION IN WHICH THEY ARE TO BECOME INVOLVED. SUBSEQUENTLY, EACH PARTICIPANT IS ASKED TO ATTEND THE ACTUAL COURT HEARING OF THE JUVENILE WHOM THEY ARE TO BEFRIEND. WHILE THE PROGRAM CANNOT BE SAID TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS, CASE HISTORIES ARE DESCRIBED TO INDICATE THE POSITIVE VALUE DERIVED FROM THE PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR INSTANCES. (RCB)