NCJ Number
14861
Date Published
1972
Length
41 pages
Annotation
REPORT OF A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT DESIGNED TO CREATE A MODEL OF VOLUNTEER PROBATION OFFICER (VPO) USAGE FOR CANADIAN JUVENILE COURTS, WITH A PROGRAM EVALUATION.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES OF THIS PILOT PROJECT WERE TO PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICE TO JUVENILE PROBATIONERS BY CRIMINOLOGY STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, TO DEVELOP A SELECTION, TRAINING AND SUPERVISORY PROGRAM FOR VOLUNTEERS INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT, TO TRAIN STUDENTS OF CRIMINOLOGY IN TECHNIQUES FOR EXTENDING CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, AND TO DEFINE, EVALUATE AND INTERPRET THE VARIOUS FUNCTIONS VOLUNTEERS MAY EFFECTIVELY UNDERTAKE IN THE REHABILITATION OF THE PROBATIONER. PROGRAM STRATEGIES, INCLUDING THE ROLE OF THE VPO, RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE VPO, INTEGRATION OF THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, AND PROJECT ADMINISTRATION ARE DESCRIBED. DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AND BACKGROUND OF THE CLIENTS, THE VPO'S AND THE PROBATION OFFICERS ARE PROVIDED. THE EVALUATIVE ASSESSMENT SHOWED THAT VPO'S COULD SPEND CONSIDERABLY MORE TIME WITH THEIR CLIENTS AND WERE AS EFFECTIVE AS PROFESSIONAL PROBATION OFFICERS IN TERMS OF THE RECIDIVISM OF THEIR CLIENTS. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT A CANADIAN INFORMATION CENTER OF VOLUNTEERS IN CORRECTIONS BE ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND CONSULTATIVE SERVICES AND TO TAKE AN ACTIVE AND DIRECTIVE ROLE IN COORDINATING PROVINCIAL OR NATIONAL POLICIES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)