NCJ Number
31039
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 39 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1975) Pages: 47-50
Date Published
1975
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A DESCRIPTION OF THE DEVELOPMENT, OPERATIONS, AND RESULTS OF THIS PROGRAM WHICH UTILIZES INMATES OF THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTION FOR MEN AS COUNSELORS OF YOUTH TRAINING SCHOOL WARDS.
Abstract
AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT IN THE FIELD OF COUNSELING INVOLVES THE USE OF PEERS OR PERSONS WHO HAVE SHARED COMMON EXPERIENCES WITH THE PARTICULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH WHOM THEY WILL WORK. THE NEW CONCEPT PROGRAM WAS IMPLEMENTED FOR JUST THIS PURPOSE: TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTIVELY-ORIENTED INMATES TO WORK WITH AND COUNSEL YOUTH AUTHORITY WARDS. IT WAS FELT THAT INMATE COUNSELORS COULD BE OF SIGNIFICANT VALUE SINCE THE WARDS WOULD NOT VIEW THEM AS 'THE ENEMY' AND SINCE THEY CAN OFFER FIRST HAND EXAMPLES THE RESULTS OF CONTINUED DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. THE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR INMATE COUNSELORS AND ROLE OF THE COUNSELORS ARE OUTLINED. BENEFITS OF THE NEW CONCEPT PROGRAM FOR THE YOUTH AUTHORITY WARDS AND INMATE COUNSELORS ARE DESCRIBED. IT IS NOTED THAT THE COUNSELORS HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY USEFUL IN DEALING WITH AGGRESSIVE WARDS AND IN CALMING POTENTIAL PRISON DISTURBANCES. THE COUNSELORS THEMSELVES EXPERIENCE INCREASED SELF-ESTEEM AND INSIGHT INTO THEIR OWN BEHAVIOR.