NCJ Number
58663
Journal
California Youth Authority Quarterly Volume: 32 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1979) Pages: 7-10
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A VOLUNTEER'S INVOLVEMENT WITH THE CITIZEN'S INITIATIVE RE-ENTRY PROJECT FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENTS READY TO BE PAROLED IS DESCRIBED THROUGH HER PRERELEASE INTERVIEWS.
Abstract
THE CITIZEN'S INITIATIVE PAROLE RE-ENTRY PROJECT IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED VOLUNTEER PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ASSIST WARDS WHO ARE ABOUT TO BE PAROLED FROM FIVE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INSTITUTIONS AND TWO CAMPS TO THE SACRAMENTO OR HAYWARD PAROLE AREAS. THE PROGRAM INVOLVES A ONE-TO-ONE MATCH WITH A COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER WHO ASSISTS AND SUPPORTS THE WARD AS HE DEALS WITH REENTRY PROBLEMS. INVOLVEMENT WITH THE WARD BEGINS 30 TO 60 DAYS PRIOR TO HIS RELEASE FROM THE INSTITUTION AND CARRIES INTO THE FIRST 4 TO 6 MONTHS OF PAROLE; THE ENTIRE PROCESS IS VOLUNTARY. A VOLUNTEER CONDUCTED PRERELEASE INTERVIEWS FOR 2 YEARS. IN THIS REPORT, SHE RECOUNTS HER INITIAL CONTACTS WITH THE WARDS AND THE PROCESS THAT LED TO HER ACTIVITY AS A VOLUNTEER. SHE ASSESSES THE IMPACT OF VOLUNTEERISM ON THE WARDS, AND EVALUATES THE NEED FOR SUCH PROGRAMS WITH JUVENILES. SHE FOUND THAT THE WARDS RESPONDED EAGERLY TO CONTACT WITH THE INTERVIEWERS, AS SOON AS THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE MEETING HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THEIR BOARD REPORTS. BECAUSE THE VOLUNTEER GIVES THE WARD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL HIS STORY TO A PERSON WHO IS NOT THERE TO JUDGE HIM, THE INTERVIEW CAN PROVIDE A THERAPEUTIC EXPERIENCE. THE VOLUNTEER PROJECT APPEARS TO HAVE MET WITH SUCCESS SINCE 95 PERCENT OF THE 450 WARDS INTERVIEWED INDICATED A DESIRE TO BE MATCHED WITH A COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER. (MHP)