NCJ Number
69860
Date Published
Unknown
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A California parole agent briefly describes a project in which college students acted as peer influences for youthful parolees in order to help the parole agent handle a large caseload.
Abstract
The project was supported by a LEAA grant. Begun in October 1969, the program was based on the premise that parolees, who were nonachievers, could be positively influenced by college students who were social achievers. The students' goal was to establish a nonauthoritarian peer relationship with the parolees. Each of the project's two groups consisted of two student corrections majors from Chico State College and six male parolees aged 15 to 20. Parolees were chosen on the basis of geographic availability. The program included weekly group counseling sessions and outside contacts such as rap sessions, pool games, and picnics. Parolees and students were oriented separately. Initially, parolees' distrust of authority was transferred to the students. At first, parolees were silent at group meetings and failed to keep social appointments with the students. But open discussion of this problem produced progress in establishing peer relationships. Several specific cases illustrated project success and problems. The four parolees who were evaluated by the Jesness Behavior Checklist showed improvement in almost all aspects of behavior. The project enabled the parole agent to relate openly to the parolees. It was concluded that the program met its goal of helping a parole agent meet the diverse needs of a regular parolee caseload. An appended table shows parolees' status regarding employment, school, and arrests at the behinning and end of the project year.