NCJ Number
40449
Journal
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY AND CORRECTIONS Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1977) Pages: 67-79
Date Published
1977
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THE RESULTS OF A 1976 SURVEY RESEARCH STUDY ON THE CORRECTIONAL VOLUNTEER AND THE NATURE OF HIS WORK IN CANADIAN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
THE FOUR INSTITUTIONS INVOLVED IN THE STUDY WERE A MEDIUM SECURITY INSTITUTION FOR MALE FIRST OFFENDERS, A MEDIUM SECURITY INSTITUTION FOR MALE RECIDIVISTS, A MEDIUM SECURITY INSTITUTION FOR WOMEN, AND A JAIL THAT IS PRIMARILY A HOLDING UNIT FOR MALE AND FEMALE ADULT PRISONERS. A TOTAL OF 123 VOLUNTEERS WERE INTERVIEWED AS TO THEIR REASONS FOR VOLUNTEERING, THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDED, THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM AND THE ROLE OF THE VOLUNTEER, THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH INMATES AND STAFF, AND VOLUNTEER SATISFACTION WITH THEIR WORK. THE VOLUNTEERS WERE A RELATIVELY HOMOGENEOUS GROUP WITH RESPECT TO EDUCATION AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS AND CAME FROM FAMILIES WITH A TRADITION OF VOLUNTEERING IN A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY SERVICES. THE VOLUNTEER'S NEED OR INTEREST AND OUTSIDE INFLUENCE FROM ANOTHER PERSON OR ORGANIZATION WAS CITED AS THE MOST IMPORTANT REASONS MOTIVATING VOLUNTEERS. MOST VOLUNTEERS WERE INVOLVED IN SUPPORT/FRIENDSHIP (AS OPPOSED TO TASK ORIENTED) ACTIVITIES, WITH LESS THAN HALF OF THOSE WITH SPECIAL SKILLS ACTUALLY UTILIZING THEM IN THEIR WORK WITH INMATES. LIMITED CONTACT AND LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF HAD LITTLE EFFECT ON THE VOLUNTEERS' EXPRESSED POSITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS. AS A GROUP, VOLUNTEERS EXPRESSED 63 PERCENT SATISFACTION WITH THEIR WORK IN THE INSTITUTIONS. RESEARCHERS SUGGEST THAT A MORE REPRESENTATIVE CROSS-SECTION OF CORRECTIONAL VOLUNTEERS BE RECRUITED, THAT MORE ATTENTION BE GIVEN TO USING VOLUNTEERS' SPECIAL SKILLS, AND THAT INMATE AND STAFF FEEDBACK BE MADE A PART OF ANY NEW VOLUNTEERS IN CORRECTIONS PROGRAM. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED....ELW