College Student Volunteers in a Prison (From Studies in Personality, Social and Clinical Psychology: Nonobvious Findings, P 37-47, 1994, Russell Eisenman -- See NCJ-150355)

• NCJ Number: 150357
• Author(s): R Eisenman
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 11 pages
• Sale Source: University Press of America
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This analysis of the use of college student volunteers in a prison treatment program concludes that the volunteer experience can be educational for the volunteer and may serve an important rehabilitation function for the inmate.

Abstract

The volunteers served as academic tutors, companions, and interns. Volunteers learn about crime, offenders, and prisons and can learn and practice skills as well as serving a humanitarian function. Correctional personnel sometimes had negative attitudes toward volunteers, regarding them as a nuisance who interrupted the normal routine. Some volunteers caused problems by discussing overly personal topics with prisoners, by missing appointments, and by being unaware how potentially dangerous the prisoners are. The use of college students as volunteers for prisoners or probationers should continue. The institution should prepare the volunteer and treat them with respect. Volunteers must be reliable and law-abiding and must serve as role models to the inmates. Questions and 12 references