NCJ Number
53725
Date Published
1977
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE VOLUNTEERS, OFFENDERS, AND SERVICES OFFERED BY THE OFFENDER AID AND RESTORATION PROGRAM OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA (OAR) ARE DESCRIBED; OAR IS EVALUATED THROUGH A MODEL THAT CONSIDERS PLANNED VERSUS ACTUAL PERFORMANCE.
Abstract
THE OBJECTIVES OF OAR ARE TO REDUCE CRIMINALITY OF THE OFFENDER, TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO OFFENDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY IN THE NEEDS OF THE OFFENDER. OAR BASES ITS PROGRAM ON THE THEORY OF SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM WHICH DEALS WITH THE SYMBOLIC NATURE OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR. OAR IS BROKEN DOWN INTO FIVE UNITS: (1) OUTREACH, (2) PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, (3) TRANSITIONAL SERVICES, (4) VOLUNTEER SUPPORT, AND (5) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THIS STUDY IDENTIFIED EIGHT AREAS AS CRUCIAL FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS OF OAR: (1) SCREENING OF CLIENTS, (2) SCREENING AND SUPERVISING OF VOLUNTEERS, (3) UTILIZATION OF VOLUNTEERS' EXPERTISE, (4) USE OF COMMUNITY FOR SUPPORT, (5) REVISION OF PROJECT OBJECTIVES, (6) PLAN FOR CONTINUED VOLUNTEER STAFFING, (7) IMPROVEMENT OF DATA KEEPING, AND (8) MAXIMIZING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VOLUNTEER/OFFENDER RELATIONSHIPS. THE STUDY DETERMINED THE OBJECTIVES OF EACH UNIT, THEN EVALUATED THE UNIT'S PERFORMANCE AGAINST THE OBJECTIVES. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE AVERAGE OAR VOLUNTEER WAS A WHITE, MARRIED FEMALE IN HER THIRTIES, WITH AT LEAST A COLLEGE EDUCATION. THE TYPICAL OFFENDER DEALT WITH BY OAR WAS A MARRIED, WHITE MALE IN HIS EARLY TWENTIES, WITH LESS THAN A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. EXAMINING 46 OFFENDERS OVER A 3-YEAR PERIOD, IT WAS FOUND THAT 40 PERCENT STAYED IN THE PROGRAM 6 MONTHS OR LESS, 50 PERCENT STAYED 2 YEARS OR LESS, AND THE REST STAYED MORE THAN 2 YEARS. OAR'S PRIMARY SERVICES TO THEIR CLIENTS WERE IN THE AREAS OF JOB COUNSELING AND JOB LEADS. HEALTH, LEGAL, AND ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE WERE ALSO PROVIDED. OAR HAD ALSO CONTACTED MANY COMMUNITY AGENCIES IN EFFORTS TO ASSIST CLIENTS. THE STUDY RECOMMENDS THAT OAR DO THE FOLLOWING: (1) ENSURE THE RAPID DELIVERY OF SERVICES, (2) FIND A WAY TO DEAL WITH TRANSIENCY OF STAFF AND CLIENTS, AND (3) INCREASE MINORITY AND EX-OFFENDER PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM. TABLES, FIGURES, AND BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE OMITTED. (MLC)