NCJ Number
17942
Date Published
Unknown
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS FILM ILLUSTRATES THE REHABILITATIVE EFFECT AND POTENTIAL REWARDS THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE PROBATION VOLUNTEER - PROBATIONER INTERACTION.
Abstract
THE FILM COMMENCES WITH A COLLAGE OF VISUALLY STIMULATING IMAGES AND DISCORDANT SOUNDS - A BURGLARY, POLICE SIRENS AND LIGHTS, AN ARREST, A PRELIMINARY HEARING, AN INTERVIEW WITH COURT-APPOINTED COUNSEL, AND, FINALLY, A PROBATION SENTENCE. THE VIEWER CAN EMPATHIZE WITH THE FAST-PACED, CONFUSION-INDUCING EXPERIENCE OF ONE'S FIRST CONTACT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE NECESSITY OF A MORE PERSONAL APPROACH. THE FILM CONTENDS THAT NO MATTER HOW DEDICATED AND PROFESSIONALLY EFFICIENT A PROBATION OFFICER IS, HE SIMPLY DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO SHOW SUFFICIENT PERSONAL INTEREST IN EACH OF HIS CASES FOR THE MAXIMUM REHABILITATIVE EFFECT. ONE WAY TO REALIZE THAT GOAL IS THROUGH THE USE OF PROBATION VOLUNTEERS, AND THE MAIN BODY OF THE FILM EMPHASIZES DIFFERENT TYPES OF INTERACTION BETWEEN PROBATIONERS AND VOLUNTEERS. THESE SCENES RUN THE GAMUT OF TOGETHERNESS FROM PLAYING STICKBALL AND HIKING IN THE WOODS TO WORKING ON CARS AND LEARNING PHOTOGRAPHY. THE POINT IS CLEARLY MADE THAT THESE RELATIONSHIPS CAN BE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL. A SUPPLEMENTARY ISSUE IS THAT NO PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OR DEGREE IS NECESSARY. IT MAY HELP TO HAVE A SKILL OR SOME KNOWLEDGE TO PASS ON, BUT THE PRIME INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS ARE HUMAN WARMTH AND UNDERSTANDING. (SNI ABSTRACT)