NCJ Number
16904
Date Published
Unknown
Length
36 pages
Annotation
EVALUATES EFFECTIVENESS OF THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS IN HELPING PROBATIONERS, REDUCING CASELOADS OF PROBATION OFFICERS, AND INCREASING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
Abstract
THE DESIGN FOR THIS STUDY WAS FOUR GROUPS ADULT EXPERIMENTAL, JUVENILE EXPERIMENTAL, ADULT CONTROL, AND JUVENILE CONTROL. THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUPS WERE HANDLED ON A ONE-TO-ONE BASIS WITH A VOLUNTEER WHILE THE CONTROLS WERE NOT, AN ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE CONTROLS AND EXPERIMENTALS REVEALED NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES. A SECOND ASPECT OF THE EVALUATION CONCERNS SERVICES RENDERED BY VOLUNTEERS TO THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. THE DATA INDICATES THAT THE VOLUNTEERS DONATE A TOTAL OF 2,665 HOURS PER FIVE MONTH PERIOD. THEIR TIME HELPS THE DEPARTMENT IN NINE WAYS OTHER THAN ONE-TO-ONE COUNSELING. THE MAJORITY OF THE PROBATION OFFICERS FELT THE PROGRAM IS HELPFUL.