ROLE OF THE VOLUNTEER - A REAPPRAISAL

• NCJ Number: 17227
• Author(s): H BARR
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: National Assoc for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO)
• Sale Source: National Assoc for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO); National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

THE AUTHOR CONTENDS THAT THE OPERATION OF MANY VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS IN THE AREAS OF PROBATION AND AFTER-CARE SERVICES MAY SERVE TO INHIBIT THE FULL POTENTIAL OF VOLUNTEERS.

Abstract

HE ARGUES THAT THREE PARCTICES - INDIVIDUALIZATION, FORMALIZATION, AND INTEGRATION - MAY EACH HAVE BUILT-IN LONG TERM DISADVANTAGES ALTHOUGH ALL THREE OFFER SHORT TERM ADVANTAGES OR THE SMOOTHE MANAGEMENT AND EFFECTIVENESS OF CURRENT VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS. INDIVIDUALIZATION IS THE RECRUITING OF ONE OR TWO VOLUNTEERS FROM ALREADY ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY GROUPS TO WORK ON A ONE-TO-ONE BASIS WITH PRISONERS. 'FORMALIZATION' REFERS TO THE ADOPTION OF FORMALIZED METHODS OF VOLUNTEER PREPARATION, SELECTION, ACCREDITATION, AND SUPERVISION. 'INTEGRATION' DESCRIBES THE TENDENCY OF THE PROBATION AND AFTER CARE SERVICES DIVISION TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTEERS TO IDENTIFY CLOSELY WITH IT. IT IS ARGUED THAT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF THESE PRACTICES COULD BE DISADVANTAGEOUS SINCE THEY TEND TO INSTITUTIONALIZE THE VOLUNTEER AND TO CHANNEL HIS ENERGIES AWAY FROM BADLY NEEDED TASKS.