NCJ Number
67107
Journal
PROBATION OFFICER Volume: 14 Issue: 4 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 21-27
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AMERICAN AND AUSTRALIAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE VOLUNTEERS ARE DISCUSSED, AND TWO AMERICAN VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS ARE PRESENTED BY AN AUSTRALIAN HONORARY PROBATION OFFICER.
Abstract
WHEREAS AUSTRALIAN VOLUNTEERS STILL DONATE THEIR TIME UNSELFISHLY, CRIMINAL JUSTICE VOLUNTEERING HAS BECOME A BIG BUSINESS AND AN ACCEPTED APPROACH TO A PAID JOB IN AMERICA. SUPPORTED BY SUBSTANTIAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS, AMERICAN VOLUNTEER SERVICES OFFER THEIR VOLUNTEERS WORKER'S COMPENSATION, 'LIABILITY OF VOLUNTEER' COVERAGE, TAX DEDUCTIONS, INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR HEALTH AND DEATH, AND MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY INSURANCE. VOLUNTEERS FROM VICTORIA (AUSTRALIA), ON THE OTHER HAND, ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RECOGNITION AWARDS, GOLD BADGES, 'VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH OR YEAR AWARD,' AND A BIRTHDAY CARD SIGNED BY THE CHIEF OF JUSTICE. TWO EXAMPLES EXIST OF TIMELY AMERICAN VOLUNTEER SERVICES. THE NATIONAL OFFENDER SERVICES CONTACT CENTER IN NEBRASKA PROVIDES HUMAN SERVICES (CRISIS SUPPORT, EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE), INFORMATION (E.G., A REFERENCE LIBRARY ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE VOLUNTEER SYSTEM) AND COMMUNICATION (MONTHLY NEWSLETTER) TO OFFENDERS. THE CANADIAN VICTIM-OFFENDER RECONCILIATION PROGRAM (VORP) ARRANGES AND SUPERVISES DIRECT MEETINGS BETWEEN OFFENDERS AND VICTIMS AFTER RESTITUTION HAD BEEN MADE. ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF HAVING VOLUNTEERS WORK IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS THAT THEY ARE MORE KEENLY AWARE OF SOCIAL DEFICIENCIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND SHOW GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF OFFENDERS WHOM THEY ACCEPT AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. THE ARTICLE CONTAINS NO REFERENCES. (SAJ)