NCJ Number
48946
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
CORRECTIONAL STAFF MEMBERS' EVALUATION OF THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS TO WORK WITH INMATES OF HAWAII'S CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IS REPORTED.
Abstract
THE REPORT OUTLINES THE PURPOSES AND METHODS OF THE EVALUATION, PRESENTS A QUESTION-BY-QUESTION SUMMARY OF STAFF MEMBERS' RESPONSES TO THE EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE, AND DRAWS CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. ONLY 17.6 PERCENT OF THE STAFF MEMBERS OF HAWAII'S JUVENILE AND ADULT CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES RESPONDED TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE. THE GREATEST RESPONSE WAS FROM SMALLER CORRECTIONAL UNITS WHERE APPARENTLY THERE IS MORE INTERACTION BETWEEN STAFF MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS. PROBLEM AREAS CITED BY MANY RESPONDENTS INCLUDE THE QUALITY OF VOLUNTEER TRAINING, VOLUNTEER TURNOVER RATES, AND THE TIME REQUIRED FOR SUPERVISING VOLUNTEERS. PARTICIPATION OF STAFF IN PLANNING AND CONDUCTING VOLUNTEER TRAINING SESSIONS IS RECOMMENDED. IT IS NOTED THAT LONGER-TERM COMMITMENTS COULD BE SECURED FROM VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE DEVELOPED CONFIDENCE AND SKILLS THROUGH APPROPRIATE ON-THE-JOB AND INSERVICE TRAINING. IT IS FURTHER NOTED THAT TIME SPENT BY VOLUNTEER SUPERVISORS AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS IN ORIENTING VOLUNTEERS TO HOUSE RULES AND JOB RESPONSIBILITIES CONTRIBUTES TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. TABULAR DATA AND A COPY OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE ARE INCLUDED. VOLUNTEER PROGRAM EVALUATIONS BY VOLUNTEER SUPERVISORS AND BY VOLUNTEERS ARE DOCUMENTED IN NCJ-48945 AND 48947. (LKM)