VOLUNTEER IN PAROLE PROGRAM - AN EVALUATION

• NCJ Number: 48372
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Dated: (MAY 1975) Pages: 111-113
• Author(s): J BERMAN
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 3 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION PROGRAM, IN WHICH LAWYERS VOLUNTEER TO SPEND 6 HOURS A MONTH WITH A STATE PENITENTIARY SYSTEM PAROLEE, IS EVALUATED FOR ILLINOIS.

Abstract

A GROUP OF 32 PAROLEES WAS RANDOMLY ASSIGNED EITHER TO BE IN THE PROGRAM OR TO RECEIVE NORMAL PAROLE SUPERVISION. INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH BOTH GROUPS OF PAROLEES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM AND AFTER IT HAD BEEN IN EFFECT FOR 9 MONTHS, IN ORDER TO EXAMINE PAROLEES' ATTITUDES AND EMPLOYMENT STATUS. PAROLE RECORDS WERE ALSO ASSESSED TO DETERMINE THE PROGRAM'S EFFECTS ON ARREST RATES AND ON PAROLEES' USE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES. AN ANALYSIS OF THE DATA INDICATED THAT THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM HAD NO SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS ON THE PAROLEES' EMPLOYMENT RATES, JOB SATISFACTION, SALARIES, ARREST RATES, USE OF COMMUNITY AGENCIES, GENERAL HAPPINESS, FEELINGS OF STIGMATIZATION, PERCEIVED DIFFICULTY IN KEEPING PAROLE RULES, OR PERCEIVED FAIRNESS OF THE COURTS. THE PROGRAM DID POSITIVELY AFFECT THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF SOCIETAL CONCERN FOR THE PAROLEE. MOREOVER, PAROLEES IN THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM EXHIBITED MORE REALISTIC JOB EXPECTATIONS THAN DID THOSE UNDER REGULAR PAROLE SUPERVISION. A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF THE PAROLEES IDENTIFIED THE LAWYER-VOLUNTEER AS A POSSIBLE CHARACTER REFERENCE AND AS SOMEONE THEY COULD TALK TO ABOUT LEGAL AND PERSONAL PROBLEMS, THUS INDICATING THAT THE PROGRAM HAD ACHIEVED THE OBJECTIVE OF PROVIDING A HIGH-STATUS FRIEND FOR THE PAROLEE. MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO DETERMINE WHY THE PROGRAM FAILED TO HAVE MORE SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS IN THE OTHER AREAS ASSESSED. THE FACT THAT PAROLEES IN THE PROGRAM HAD BEEN PAROLED FOR 6 MONTHS BEFORE ASSIGNMENT TO THE PROGRAM MAY HAVE REDUCED PROGRAM EFFECTS. SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING PROGRAMS OF THIS TYPE INCLUDE: THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PAROLEE-VOLUNTEER RELATIONS PRIOR TO OR EARLY IN PAROLE, BETTER SCREENING OF VOLUNTEERS, AND VOLUNTEER TRAINING WHICH EMPHASIZES THE AVAILABILITY AND VALUE OF COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AGENCIES. (JAP)