NCJ Number
67619
Date Published
1975
Length
34 pages
Annotation
THE PROBLEMS CREATED BY BRINGING VOLUNTEERS INTO A PROBATION AGENCY ARE DISCUSSED; A MODEL IS PROPOSED WHEREBY BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND VOLUNTEER PROBATION OFFICERS CAN APPLY THEIR UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES TO EFFECTIVE PROBATION WORK.
Abstract
WHEN A COORDINATOR OF A CORRECTIONAL AGENCY INTRODUCES VOLUNTEERS INTO THE AGENCY'S WORK, HE WILL HAVE TO OVERCOME HURDLES RAISED BY PROFESSIONALS WHO OBJECT TO VOLUNTEERS BECAUSE THEIR EGOTISTICAL STATUS IDENTIFICATION IS THREATENED. HOWEVER, THE COORDINATOR SHOULD CHANGE THE PROFESSIONAL'S IMAGE OF HIMSELF BY ENCOURAGING HIM TO WORK WITH DIFFICULT CASES WHERE SPECIALIZED KINDS OF 'THERAPY' ARE NEEDED AND URGING HIM TO TEACH HIS SKILLS TO THE VOLUNTEERS. A SUCCESSFUL PROBATION AND PAROLE PROGRAM NEEDS COMMON OUTCOME CRITERIA AND GOALS, A COMMON THEORY OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. REALISTIC OUTCOME CRITERIA AND GOALS CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED WHEN CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS ARE AWARE OF THE VALUE OF A VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, WHEN AGENCY SPECIALISTS ARE CONFIDENT OF THEIR EFFECTIVENESS, AND OFFENDERS HAVE CLEAR STANDARDS FOR SUCCESS ON PROBATION IN ORDER TO TERMINATE IT AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. A COMMON THEORY OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR SHOULD INCORPORATE BOTH THE PROFESSIONAL'S AND THE VOLUNTEER'S EXPLANATIONS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. A VOLUNTEER PROGRAM CAN HELP CREATE A 'SENSE OF COMMUNITY' BY MAKING VOLUNTEERS MORE AWARE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES OF CRIME DURING THEIR TRAINING, AND BY ORGANIZING VOLUNTEERS AND OFFENDERS INTO COMMUNITY GROUPS FOR WORKING ON COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS. AN APPENDIX CONTAINS A REPRINT OF AN ARTICLE FROM THE JANUARY 1975 ISUE OF THE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY AND CORRECTIONS ON THE DESCRIPTION OF AN ECOLOGICAL MODEL FOR VOLUNTEER WORKERS IN CORRECTIONS.