NCJ Number
65320
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THIS SECOND PHASE OF A TWO-PHASE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT DESCRIBES A PILOT VOLUNTEER PROGRAM FOR ASSISTING INMATES' FAMILIES LIVING IN THE SWANSEA AREA OF ENGLAND.
Abstract
PHASE 1 (NCJ 65319) OF THE PROJECT REPORTED RESULTS FROM A SURVEY OF 30 INMATES' WIVES REGARDING NEEDS AND PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED AS A RESULT OF THEIR HUSBANDS' IMPRISONMENTS. BASED UPON FINDINGS FROM PHASE 1, PHASE 2 OF THE PROJECT DEVELOPED A PILOT PROGRAM OF VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE FOR INMATES' FAMILIES IN THE SWANSEA AREA. ONE ASPECT OF THE PROGRAM IS CALLED 'IMMEDIATE PICK-UP.' THIS CONSISTS OF A VOLUNTEER'S VISIT TO AN INMATE'S FAMILY WITHIN 24-48 HOURS OF THE HUSBAND'S IMPRISONMENT, WHETHER HE IS SENTENCED OR REMANDED INTP CUSTODY. THIS VISIT IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HUSBAND'S SITUATION, AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT COMMUNITY SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR THE FAMILY. A SECOND ASPECT OF THE PROGRAM IS CALLED 'LONG-TERM SUPPORT.' THIS CONSISTS OF VOLUNTEER INVOLVEMENT WITH THE FAMILY FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME BEYOND THE FIRST VISIT, BASED UPON THE COORDINATING AGENCY'S ASSESSMENT OF FAMILY NEEDS. IN ADDITION TO VOLUNTEER INVOLVEMENT WITH THE FAMILIES, THE COORDINATING AGENCY WILL ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH EXISTING COMMUNITY SERVICES WHICH ARE DEEMED RELEVANT TO THE PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED BY INMATES' FAMILIES. TRAINING FOR THE VOLUNTEERS HAS BEEN DEVELOPED OUT OF THE INFORMATION ON INMATES' FAMILIES NEEDS DERIVED FROM PHASE 1. THE TRAINING COURSE CONSISTS OF SEVEN SESSIONS THAT DEAL WITH AN INTRODUCTION TO THE NATURE OF THE PROGRAM, A FORUM WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM AGENCIES CONCERNED WITH INMATES AND THEIR FAMILIES, VIDEO TAPES ON PROBATION SERVICE VOLUNTEERS AND SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES, TRAINING IN COMMUNICATION SKILLS, GENERAL ISSUES IN VOLUNTEER WORK, A DISCUSSION WITH PROBATION OFFICERS, AND THE ORGANIZATION OF THE PROGRAM. A DIAGRAM AND PROGRAM SCHEDULE ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)