HOW EFFECTIVE ARE VOLUNTEERS - PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

• NCJ Number: 32898
• Journal: Crime and Delinquency Volume: 22 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1976) Pages: 192-200
• Author(s): F P SCIOLI; T J COOK
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council on Crime and Delinquency
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Best Practice/State-of-the-Art Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

REVIEW OF MAJOR FINDINGS ON FORMAL METHODS OF REHABILITATION IN THE COURTS AND CORRECTIONS AND COMPARISON WITH RATINGS OF EFFECTIVENESS ASSIGNED TO AN INFORMAL METHOD, THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS.

Abstract

AN EVALUATION WAS MADE OF OVER 250 REPORTS, MONOGRAPHS, MEMOS, PURPORTING TO EVALUATE VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS. EACH STUDY WAS ANALYZED FOR (1) SPECIFICITY OF PROGRAM STRUCTURE, (2) RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF THE MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES EMPLOYED, (3) STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE RESEARCH DESIGN, AND (4) UTILITY OF THE EVALUATION RESULTS FOR POLICY RELATIVE TO DECISIONMAKING. ONLY TEN REPORTS DEALING WITH IMPACT ON CLIENTS WERE FOUND TO HAVE POLICY UTILITY. VOLUNTEERS WERE FOUND TO BE AT LEAST AS EFFECTIVE IN ACCOMPLISHING THEIR OBJECTIVES (REDUCING RECIDIVISM, IMPROVING SELF-CONCEPT, AS FORMAL METHODS OF REHABILITATING OFFENDERS. SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS OF RESEARCH ARE OFFERED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)