POTENTIALITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF THE EX-OFFENDER PARA-PROFESSIONAL IN A CORRECTIONAL SETTING

• NCJ Number: 12243
• Journal: PROBATION AND PAROLE Issue: 5 Dated: (SUMMER 1973) Pages: 64-70
• Author(s): T J CALLANAN
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: New York State
• Publication Format: Article

Annotation

WHILE THE CONCEPT OF EX-OFFENDERS AS PARA-PROFESSIONALS IN THE CORRECTIONAL SETTING HAS BEEN ACTIVATED, THERE IS MORE RHETORIC THAN ACTUAL EMPLOYMENT.

Abstract

THE FIRST LARGE SCALE USE OF PARA-PROFESSIONALS IN SOCIAL SERVICE FIELDS CAME ABOUT WITH THE MOVEMENT TO END DISCRIMINATION AGAINST BLACKS AND OTHER MINORITIES AND WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF 'NEW CAREERS' PROGRAMS FOR MINORITIES TO STOP THE POVERTY-WELFARE SYNDROME. THE REWARDS OF USING EX-OFFENDER PARA-PROFESSIONALS IN THE CORRECTIONS SETTING INCLUDE BETTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH CLIENTS BECAUSE OF KNOWLEDGE OF LOWER CLASS LIFE STYLE AND THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE AND BE ACCEPTED BY THEIR PEERS. PITFALLS THAT MAY LIMIT EFFECTIVE USE OF EX-OFFENDERS AS PARA-PROFESSIONALS INCLUDE FAILURE OF PROFESSIONALS TO ACCEPT THEM, OVERIDENTIFICATION WITH THE AGENCY AND UNDERIDENTIFICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND SUSPICION BY THE CLIENTS THAT THE EX-OFFENDER IS A TRAITOR. IN SPITE OF WIDESPREAD EXPERIMENTAL USE OF EX-OFFENDERS AS CORRECTIONAL PARAPROFESSIONALS, MORE THAN FORTY STATES HAVE EITHER STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE PROHIBITIONS AGAINST THE EMPLOYMENT OF EITHER PAROLEES OR PROBATIONERS.