HOW TO ORGANIZE A COMMUNITY SPONSOR PROJECT

• NCJ Number: 47955
• Journal: Prison Journal Volume: 56 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUTUMN/WINTER 1976) Pages: 18-27
• Author(s): M V LEWIS; D E MCKEE; L 1 GOODSTEIN; A O BEAMESDERFER; J J KAUFMAN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: Pennsylvania Prison Soc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: EXTRACTED FROM AUTHORS' RESEARCH REPORT' COMMUNITY SPONSORS AND SUPPORT TEAMS IN CORRECTIONS,' PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH ON HUMAN RESOURCES, NOVEMBER, 1975

Annotation

THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF A COMMUNITY-SPONSOR PROGRAM FOR EX-OFFENDERS ARE DESCRIBED, AND GUIDELINES ARE SUGGESTED FOR ORGANIZING AND MAINTAINING A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT.

Abstract

A COMMUNITY-SPONSOR PROGRAM RECRUITS INTERESTED PERSONS TO WORK ON A ONE-TO-ONE BASIS WITH INCARCERATED PERSONS WHILE THEY ARE IN A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AND, LATER, WHEN THEY ARE PAROLED. THE COMMUNITY SPONSOR CAN DO MANY THINGS A COUNSELOR CANNOT, SUCH AS SPENDING TIME LOCATING A JOB AND HOUSING FOR THE PRISONER AT THE TIME OF RELEASE OR COMMUNICATING WITH THE FAMILY. THE SPONSOR CAN HELP THE COUNSELOR DEVELOP COORDINATED PLANS FOR THE RESIDENT'S REENTRY INTO THE COMMUNITY. UPON THE INMATE'S RELEASE, THE SPONSOR CAN BECOME THE VOLUNTEER PAROLE AIDE. A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM NEEDS A FULL-TIME COORDINATOR AND AT LEAST ONE PROGRAM RECRUITER. CRITERIA FOR RESIDENTS ENTERING THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE CAREFULLY SPELLED OUT. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT SPONSORSHIP BEGIN WITHIN 2 YEARS OF THE RELEASE DATE. THE PRISONER SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN THE PROGRAM; OFFENDERS WHO WISH TO SETTLE IN A NEW COMMUNITY ARE GOOD CANDIDATES. THOSE WITH A HISTORY OF SEVERAL PREVIOUS INCARCERATIONS, ASSAULT HISTORIES, AND SEX CRIMES HAVE PROVEN TO BE POOR CANDIDATES. SCREENING SHOULD BE DONE INDEPENDENTLY BY TWO DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONAL STAFF MEMBERS. QUESTIONS FOR EVALUATING THE RESIDENT'S SUITABILITY ARE SUGGESTED. IT IS PREFERABLE TO RECRUIT A SPONSOR WHO IS A PREVIOUS ACQUAINTANCE OF THE OFFENDER AND IS WILLING TO REVITALIZE THE RELATIONSHIP. THE SPONSOR SHOULD BE OF GOOD CHARACTER AND A STABLE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY. IT IS PROBABLY WISE TO AVOID RECRUITING HIGH-STATUS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY SINCE THEY ARE USUALLY TOO BUSY TO DISCHARGE THEIR DUTIES. THE SPONSOR SHOULD BE ABLE TO DEVELOP A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP AND BE SIMILAR TO THE OFFENDER IN RACE, AGE, AND SOCIAL STATUS. SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE FOR AN ORIENTATION SESSION. THE FORMAT OF AN ORIENTATION MANUAL IS SUGGESTED. SPONSOR INTEREST SHOULD BE MAINTAINED THROUGH MEETINGS AND RESPONSE-GATHERING MECHANISMS. A TOLL-FREE PHONE NUMBER AND A NEWSLETTER ARE RECOMMENDED. THE PROGRAM HAS SHOWN GREAT POTENTIAL, AND ITS EXPANSION IS URGED.