NCJ Number
51940
Date Published
1978
Length
34 pages
Annotation
A PROGRAM TO RECRUIT, TRAIN, AND USE NONPROFESSIONAL VOLUNTEERS AND UNEMPLOYED EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SCIENCE GRADUATES TO WORK WITH YOUNGSTERS IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS RECOMMENDED FOR REFUNDING.
Abstract
THE OBJECT OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE A POOL OF TRAINED VOLUNTEERS TO SUPPLEMENT THE LIMITED RESOURCES OF EXISTING PERSONNEL IN COURT, PROBATION, AND YOUTH SERVICES AGENCIES AND TO PROVIDE THE MANPOWER NECESSARY FOR THE DIVERSION OF A LARGER NUMBER OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS. THE TRAINING PROGRAM IS PRAISED AS BEING THOROUGH, RELEVANT TO THE WORK INVOLVED, AND CONSISTENT. THE EVALUATION FOUND THAT VOLUNTEERS WERE USING BEHAVIORS RECOMMENDED IN THE TRAINING SESSIONS AND THAT CONTINUOUS INSERVICE AND FOLLOWUP TRAINING HAD BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE PROGRAM. TRAINED VOLUNTEERS ARE AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC DEFENDERS, PROBATION DEPARTMENTS, YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS, THE COURTS (FOR USE AS GUARDIANS AD LITEM), CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS (AS OMBUDSMEN AND LIAISONS BETWEEN THE CHILDREN AND AGENCIES OUTSIDE) AND TO GROUP HOME STAFF FOR FOLLOWUP AID. AT THE TIME OF THE EVALUATION THE PROJECT COVERED BUCKS, CHESTER, AND DELAWARE COUNTIES, THUS SERVING THE ENTIRE SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AREA. DURING THE CONTRACT PERIOD THE PROJECT WAS COMMITTED TO SUPPLYING A MINIMUM OF 45 TRAINED CITIZENS FOR PLACEMENT; 67 WERE PLACED. COURT, PROBATION, AND CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS PRAISED THE VOLUNTEERS' PERFORMANCE HIGHLY. THE EVALUATION IDENTIFIED 12 OFFENDERS WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN INSTITUTIONALIZED HAD NOT VOLUNTEERS BEEN AVAILABLE TO HELP SUPERVISE THEM. INSTITUTIONALIZATION COSTS FOR THESE 12 WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT $300,000 FOR 1 YEAR, WHICH MORE THAN JUSTIFIED THE $50,000 A YEAR COST OF THE PROGRAM. THE VOLUNTEERS ALSO HELPED OVERWORKED STAFFS IMPROVE SERVICES. APPENDIXES CONTAIN SAMPLE NEWSLETTERS AND SAMPLE REQUESTS FOR TRAINING AND SERVICE. TABLES PRESENT EVALUATION DATA. (GLR)