NCJ Number
51525
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS IN PROBATION SERVICE, COUNSELING WAYWARD YOUNG ADULTS, LACK OF PARENTAL COOPERATION, SOCIAL INVESTIGATION, AND PROBATIONER-EMPLOYEE THEFT ARE CONSIDERED.
Abstract
PAPERS PRESENTED IN A WORKSHOP ON PROBATION AND SOCIAL INVESTIGATION BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM HONG KONG, INDIA, SINGAPORE, THAILAND, AND JAPAN ARE SUMMARIZED. THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS IN PROBATION SERVICES WAS CONSIDERED BY THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM INDIA AND HONG KONG, AND THE PRIMACY OF THE PROFESSIONAL PROBATION OFFICER IN THE SUPERVISION AND TRAINING OF VOLUNTEERS IS EMPHASIZED. RECRUITMENT, TRAINING, AND PROBATIONER VOLUNTEER MATCHING ARE DISCUSSED AS IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN THE SUCCESS OF A VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM SINGAPORE NOTED THAT WAYWARD BEHAVIOR ON THE THRESHOLD OF CRIMINALITIY BY YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16 AND 21 HAS BECOME AN INCREASINGLY SERIOUS PROBLEM IN HER COUNTRY, AND STATED THAT NONCOMPULSORY COUNSELING HAS FAILED TO REACH SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS. THE STRENGTHENING OF PREVENTIVE MEASURES, THE EXPANSION OF THE EXISTING TREATMENT PROGRAM, AND THE ENACTMENT OF LEGAL PROVISIONS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM. PARENTAL INDIFFERENCE TOWARD THE PROBLEMS AND MISBEHAVIOR OF THEIR CHILDREN WAS SINGLED OUT AS A PROBLEM IN THAILAND. THE USE OF PROBATION VOLUNTEERS AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL IS SUGGESTED. THE PROBLEM OF COMPENSATION TO AN EMPLOYER FOR THE LOSS HE SUFFERS BY THE ACT OF A PROBATIONER OR PAROLEE EMPLOYEE IS EXAMINED IN THE PRESENTATION OF A JAPANESE REPRESENTATIVE. THE SYSTEM WHICH REQUIRES SUCH EMPLOYEES TO HAVE A GUARANTOR IS DISCUSSED, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE ROLE OF PROBATION VOLUNTEERS IN SUCH A SYSTEM. A SECOND REPRESENTATIVE FROM JAPAN DEALS WITH SOME PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH SOCIAL INVESTIGATION. REFERENCE, INTERVIEW, AND OBSERVATION ARE DISCUSSED AS ARE METHODS OF INVESTIGATION. EVALUATION OF THE RESULTS OF AN INVESTIGATION IS ALSO CONSIDERED. (RCB)