NCJ Number
80367
Date Published
1981
Length
69 pages
Annotation
Findings and recommendations are presented from a 1980 survey of the problems and needs of volunteer probation officers (VPO's) in Singapore.
Abstract
A committee composed of VPO's and probation and aftercare officers was established to assess the problems and needs of VPO's in the Community Probation Service (CPS). Objectives of the assessment were (1) to identify difficulties and problems, if any, faced by VPO's in the CPS and to suggest ways to alleviate them; (2) to study and evaluate existing measures and practices used to sustain the interest of VPO's in the CPS and make recommendations for improvements; and (3) to consider any other problems and needs VPO's may have. Mailed questionnaires were sent to 432 VPO's, and the response rate was 33.8 percent. The questionnaire sought respondents' views on objectives of the CPS, selection of VPO's, training, the VPO newsletter, communication, case allocation and case contact, contacts with VPO's and their supervisors, case supervision, duties and responsibilities, reports, job employment unit, perception, social activities, and community projects. Salient responses included the desire for better support from supervising probation and aftercare officers, improvement in classroom training, greater departmental recognition for their work, and closer contacts among themselves. Recommendations for dealing with the problems revealed are offered. Tables are provided. The questionnaire is appended.