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Retirees Serve As Mentors to Young Offenders

NCJ Number
125375
Journal
Aging Issue: 357 Dated: (1988) Pages: 14-16
Author(s)
B Platt
Date Published
1988
Length
3 pages
Annotation
A group of retirees are serving as mentors to young adult offenders in Massachusetts under an alternative sentencing arrangement that aims to provide these offenders with a chance to avoid serving time in jail by working at a steady job.
Abstract
The mentors are part of a small nonprofit organization called The Work Connection, which is a subsidiary of the International Union of Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO. The program helps offenders find jobs and provides the support they need to retain their jobs. Participants and their mentors usually meet each week for a period of 5 minutes to several hours to talk about the job and other aspects of the offender's life. The mentors receive a weekly salary based on their caseloads. They may select the number and type of offender with whom to work. They are also encouraged to use their own life experience in helping the offenders deal with problems in seeking and holding jobs. Case narratives.