South Australian Court Information Centres: A Successful Community Corrections Project Using Departmental Volunteers (From Court Support and Advisory Services, P 49-59, 1987, Jane Mugford, ed. -See NCJ-107566)

• NCJ Number: 107569
• Author(s): C Tamm
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 11 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

South Australia's court information centers use volunteers to inform users of court facilities about logistical and processing matters related to their cases.

Abstract

The information centers, which are usually located in the lobbies of court facilities, direct persons to appropriate courts and related agencies, answer questions about case processing procedures, and provide general support and counseling, including attendance at court with the client. Volunteers are trained to deal with people under stress and provide the kinds of information typically sought by persons coming to court facilities. The centers operate under the professional staff of the Department of Correctional Services Volunteer Unit. There are currently over 100 volunteers involved in various programs. During 1986, 21,037 citizens were helped by the centers. Funding for the 1986-1987 fiscal year is approximately $24,000, excluding wages and clerical support costs. Appendixes contain a job description for center volunteers and the forms used by volunteers to record information on client contacts and services provided. 2 tables.