EXPERIENCES OF VOLUNTEER COUNSELORS WITH JUVENILE OFFENDERS

• NCJ Number: 48977
• Author(s): W BROCKMAN
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 7 pages
• Sale Source: Eric Document Reproduction Service; National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN PERSONNEL AND GUIDANCE ASSOCIATION (31ST, NEW YORK, NY, MARCH 23-26, 1975)

Annotation

COUNSELORS' IMPRESSIONS OF THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH JUVENILE PROBATIONERS FROM THE PORTSMOUTH, VA., JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURT ARE SUMMARIZED.

Abstract

THE SUMMARY TOUCHES ON THE ACTIVITIES SHARED BY THE COUNSELORS AND THEIR CLIENTS, PROBLEMS RELATED TO DIFFERENCES IN THE SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS OF COUNSELORS AND CLIENTS, AND METHODS USED BY COUNSELORS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS OF TRUST WITH THEIR CLIENTS. THE COUNSELORS FOUND THAT SHARED EXPERIENCES HELPED TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN RAPPORT WITH CLIENTS. THE IMPORTANCE OF LISTENING TO THE CLIENTS AND SUSPENDING JUDGMENT ON THEIR ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR BECAME APPARENT. THE COUNSELORS FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH THE ANGER AND HOSTILITY EVIDENCED BY SOME CLIENTS, BUT WERE ABLE TO COUNTER SUCH ATTITUDES WITH UNDERSTANDING, ACCEPTANCE, AND FRIENDLINESS. PERSONAL INTEGRITY, PATIENCE, AND SELF-AWARENESS WERE OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE TO THE COUNSELORS AS THEY BUILT THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR CLIENTS. MANY COUNSELORS REPORTED THAT, ONCE A RELATIONSHIP OF FRIENDSHIP AND MUTUAL TRUST HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED, THEY WERE ABLE TO HELP THEIR YOUNG CLIENTS DEAL WITH PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS IN A WAY THAT PARENTS AND PROBATION OFFICERS WERE NOT. (LKM)