NCJ Number
85347
Date Published
1982
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The Ontario Ministry of Correctional Services (MCS) commissioned the creation of three videotapes to instruct volunteers through an overview of legal, administrative, and social work issues fundamental to the role of the probation/parole officer.
Abstract
Volunteer programs have been growing in Ontario for some time, with probation officers doing the recruiting, training, and coordination. This expansion, coupled with increased demands on officers, created the need for more time-efficient and consistent training resources. A committee was formed to research the feasibility of and potential for a training film to be used by coordinators to train volunteers. Research results confirmed the need and also identified other areas where such a film might be used. These areas include training for new staff, community awareness/education programs, and furthering liaison between the courts, the police, and the MCS. After MCS approval, a freelance company was contracted to write, produce, and direct three 20-minute videotapes. The first tape presents a profile of the average probationer, outlining factors affecting risk and crime of prevalence. This tape also dramatizes arrest and court procedure. The second tape dramatizes what is involved in community supervision, the skills necessary in counseling, and the role of the volunteer in the community. The third tape is a series of interviews in which current issues and future trends in corrections are discussed, along with the ministry's plans for these issues. The series appears to be a success, and the MCS is considering proposals for future films.