NCJ Number
46328
Date Published
1977
Length
84 pages
Annotation
THIS FINAL EVALUATION STUDY OF A VOLUNTEER PROBATION PROGRAM FOUND THAT USE OF VOLUNTEERS FOR ONE-TO-ONE COUNSELING WAS LESS PRODUCTIVE THAN USE OF VOLUNTEERS FOR INTAKE AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE ACTIVITIES.
Abstract
THE VOLUNTEER PROBATION PROGRAM OF NEW ORLEANS, LA., WAS ONE OF 11 PROGRAMS FUNDED UNDER THE TARGET AREA CRIME SPECIFICS PROGRAM. ITS PURPOSE WAS TO RELIEVE OVERBURDENED JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICERS BY ENLISTING VOLUNTEERS TO WORK ON A ONE-TO-ONE BASIS WITH LESS SERIOUS YOUNG OFFENDERS, THUS FREEING SKILLED PROFESSIONALS TO CONCENTRATE ON MORE DIFFICULT CASES. DURING THE 27-MONTH TRIAL PERIOD, 53 YOUTHS WERE ASSIGNED TO VOLUNTEERS. HOWEVER, EVALUATIONS AFTER 6 AND 18 MONTHS FOUND THAT THESE ASSIGNMENTS WERE NOT SAVING PROBATION OFFICER TIME. INSTEAD, EACH ONE TOOK AS MUCH TIME AS BEFORE BECAUSE THE OFFICER HAD TO OVERSEE THE COUNSELING AND ANSWER SO MANY QUESTIONS. THE FOCUS WAS THEN CHANGED, AND VOLUNTEERS WERE USED FOR INTAKE AND AS COMMUNITY RESOURCE PERSONS (CONDUCTING FIELD TRIPS, MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR TUTORING, ETC.). THE INTAKE PROGRAM RESULTED IN THREE PROBATION OFFICERS BEING RELEASED FROM THIS DUTY, AND THE COMMUNITY ASPECT GREATLY INCREASED THE NUMBER OF OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES WHICH COULD BE PROVIDED. OVERALL, THE 53 OFFENDERS SERVED BY THE PROJECT HAD A RECIDIVISM RATE 10 PERCENT LESS THAN RATES RECORDED FOR SIMILAR OFFENDERS IN THE YEARS BEFORE THE PROGRAM STARTED. OF THOSE WHO COMPLETED THE PROGRAM, 78 PERCENT HAD NO SUBSEQUENT ARRESTS. HOWEVER, FOR THE 22 PERCENT WHO CONTINUED TO BE ARRESTED, THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSES INCREASED. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT IF THE ONE-TO-ONE COUNSELING WERE TO BE CONTINUED, ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES WOULD HAVE TO BE DEVELOPED SO THAT THE PROBATION OFFICER COULD RELEASE THE OFFENDER TO THE VOLUNTEER. AS THE PROGRAM WAS ADMINISTERED THE OFFICER WAS FORCED TO CONTINUE A WEEKLY CONTACT, AND IN ACTUAL PRACTICE, EACH YOUTH HAD THREE PROBATION CONTACTS -- THE VOLUNTEER, THE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPERVISOR. THIS LED TO A COST OF $3,650 PER YOUTH SERVED. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE VOLUNTEER SERVICES PROGRAM BE REDESIGNED ON A DEPARTMENTWIDE BASIS, IDENTIFYING ALL AREAS IN WHICH VOLUNTEERS COULD BE USED PROFITABLY -- PARTICULARLY IN CHAPERONED FUNCTIONS, RECREATIONAL PLANNING AND SPONSORING, AND ADMINISTRATIVE AND CLERICAL FUNCTIONS. VOLUNTEERS TRAINED IN THE AVAILABILITY OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES COULD BE USED AS REFERRAL AGENTS FOR THE INFORMAL HANDLING OF YOUTHS WHO ARE NOT BEING PETITIONED. VOLUNTEERS COULD ALSO BE RECRUITED FOR TUTORING AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEEDED RESOURCES CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE. AT THE END OF THE EXPERIMENTAL PERIOD, THE PROGRAM, NOW CALLED THE JUVENILE COURT PROBATION PROGRAM, WAS FUNDED BY THE LOUISIANA COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE THROUGH BLOC GRANTS. THE CHANGES RECOMMENDED ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING MADE AT THE TIME OF WRITING. (GLR)