NCJ Number
19332
Date Published
1974
Length
55 pages
Annotation
THE 'VOLUNTEERS IN PROBATION' AUGMENT COURT JUVENILE SERVICES BY UTILIZING VOLUNTEERS AS FRIENDS, COUNSELORS, CONFIDANTS, AND RESOURCE PERSONS TO ASSIST CHILDREN UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE COURT.
Abstract
THE MAJOR PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: 1) SCREENING OF VOLUNTEER APPLICANTS; 2) SCANNING ATTITUDES, INTERESTS AND PERSONALITIES IN ORDER TO MATCH OFFENDERS WITH THE MOST APPROPRIATE VOLUNTEER; 3) DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEMATIC INFORMATION ON CHARACTER TYPES WHICH ARE RECEPTIVE AND NON-RECEPTIVE TO RELATIONSHIPS WITH VOLUNTEERS; 4) TRAINING AND SUPERVISION OF VOLUNTEERS; AND 5) TRAINING OF PROBATION STAFF IN THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS. THIS REPORT CONCENTRATES ON THE UTILIZATION OF VOLUNTEERS IN THE PROGRAM, RATHER THAN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COURT PROGRAM ITSELF. AFTER A REVIEW OF THE HISTORY AND CURRENT STATUS OF THE PROGRAM, EVALUATORS JUDGE THE VOLUNTEER ASPECT BOTH 'PROFESSIONALLY PLANNED AND OPERATED'. RECOMMENDATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ON HOW TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS AND THE SCOPE OF THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM TAKE UP THE REMAINING MAJOR PART OF THIS REPORT. THE ISSUES DISCUSSED INCLUDE HOW TO PREPARE FOR FUTURE PROGRAM DISCONTINUITIES, REPLACEMENT OF THE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR, DIVERSIFICATION OF VOLUNTEERS AND IN VOLUNTEER SERVICE OFFERINGS, COMMUNICATION BETWEEN STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, AND STAFF INVOLVEMENT. THE APPENDIX PRELIMINARY TIME INPUT-OUTPUT ANALYSIS OF THE PROGRAM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)