STAFF, VOLUNTEER AND CLIENT PERCEPTIONS ON THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS IN PROBATION

• NCJ Number: 67206
• Journal: Canadian Journal of Criminology Volume: 22 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1980) Pages: 206-211
• Author(s): T WOOD
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Canadian Assoc for the Prevention of Crime
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

THE OPINIONS OF A SAMPLE POPULATION OF PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND PROBATIONERS IN ONTARIO, CANADA, CONCERNING THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS IN PROBATION ARE ANALYZED.

Abstract

A QUESTIONNAIRE WITH BOTH OPEN AND CLOSED ALTERNATIVE QUESTIONS WAS ADMINISTERED TO 120 ONTARIO RESPONDENTS, INCLUDING PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICERS, 47 VOLUNTEERS, AND 60 PROBATIONERS. DATA WAS ANALYZED BY MEANS OF CROSS-TABULATION AND FREQUENCY RESPONSE TABLES ACCORDING TO THE STATISTICAL PACKAGE FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES. THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE VOLUNTEERS WERE GENERALLY MORE SATISFIED WITH THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM THAN STAFF OR PROBATIONERS. CROSS-TABULATIONS INDICATED SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER ACCEPTANCE AND SATISFACTION LEVELS IN THE RURAL VERSUS URBAN PROGRAMS. THE STAFF WERE NOT OPPOSED TO THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS, BUT WERE PRIMARILY CRITICAL OF THE ORGANIZATION AND MANAGERIAL COMPONENTS (TRAINING, SUPERVISION, ACCOUNTABILITY AND EVALUATIONS, VOLUNTEER JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES). CONFUSION REGARDING ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES WAS EVIDENT WITH LITTLE DIRECT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE STAFF AND VOLUNTE A MAJORITY OF RESPONDENTS FELT POWERLESS TO CHANGE THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, BUT FELT THAT IMMEDIATE CHANGES WERE NEEDED. A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF VOLUNTEERS FOUND THEIR FUNCTION AS AUXILIARY PROBATION OFFICERS TOO RESTRICTIVE. INDICATIVE OF THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION, SURVEY RESULTS SHOW THAT 65 PERCENT OF THE PROBATIONERS BELIEVED THAT VOLUNTEERS WERE PAID A REGULAR SALARY FOR THEIR DUTIES. A MAJORITY OF THE PROBATIONERS WOULD NOT DISCUSS PERSONAL ISSUES WITH THEIR VOLUNTEER AND CLEARLY REGARDED THE VOLUNTEER AS ANOTHER AUTHORITY FIGURE, RATHER THAN A FRIEND. IT IS ARGUED THAT VOLUNTEERS HAVE A BETTER POTENTIAL FOR PROVIDING EFFECTIVE SERVICES TO PROBATIONERS AND THAT TO TAP THIS POTENTIAL WILL REQUIRE FIRM COMMITMENT AND INPUT FROM THOSE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. THE ARTICLE CONTAINS REFERENCES AND THE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS RESULTS. (SAJ)