THE HIGH RATE OF RECIDIVISTS AMONG RELEASED OFFENDERS SHOWS THAT THE STATE ALONE CANNOT SUCCESSFULLY COPE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND NEEDS THE COLLABORATION OF CITIZENS. VOLUNTEERS ASSIST FULL-TIME SOCIAL WORKERS BY PROVIDING IMPORTANT PRIVATE CONTACTS FOR ISOLATED PRISONERS AND PROBATIONERS. THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE VOLUNTEER INCLUDE INDIVIDUAL CONTACTS WITH THE PRISONER BY MAIL OR VISITS DURING HIS IMPRISONMENT AND PRACTICAL HELP LIKE FINDING A JOB OR ACCOMODATIONS AFTER HIS RELEASE. DEPENDING ON THE VOLUNTEER'S ABILITY AND EXPERIENCE HE/SHE CAN LEAD DISCUSSION AND STUDY GROUPS, OR GROUPS ENGAGED IN SPORTS AND OTHER LEISURE ACTIVITIES. IN FRANKFURT, A LEISURE GROUP CALLED 'MEETINGPOINT' WAS FORMED BY CONCERNED CITIZENS WHO WANTED TO FACILITATE THE PRISONERS' RETURN INTO SOCIETY AFTER THEIR RELEASE. THE PERSONALITY OF A VOLUNTEER SHOULD INCLUDE FEATURES LIKE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STABILITY AS WELL AS PERSEVERANCE AND TOLERANCE, WHILE SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE IS NOT REQUIRED. NEW GUIDELINES FOR VOLUNTEER EMPLOYMENT IN HESSIA, CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATIONS: (1) COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS, (2) CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF ALL CASES, (3) OBLIGATION TO REPORT SPECIAL PROBLEMS, (4) AGREEMENT TO BE SUPERVISED. THE COUNSELLING OFFICE FOR VOLUNTEER WORK IN PROBATION AND CORRECTIONS IN FRANKFURT HANDLES: (1) RECRUITING OF VOLUNTEERS, (2) PLANNING AND CARRYING OUT OF INTRODUCTORY COURSES, (3) COLLABORATION WITH INSTITUTIONS ASSISTING IN PROBATION AND CORRECTIONS, (4) ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE FOR VOLUNTEER WORKERS, (5) PREPARATION OF MEETINGS AND ARRANGEMENT OF WEEKEND SEMINARS FOR VOLUNTEERS, (6) ADMINISTRATION OF THE ORGANIZATION'S EARMARKED FUNDS, (7) DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATIVE LITERATURE. AS ONLY INDIVIDUAL CASES OFFER INSIGHT INTO THE POSSIBILITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF VOLUNTEER WORK, NO GENERAL CONCLUSIONS CAN BE DRAWN AT THIS POINT. HOWEVER, THE CHANCE FOR RELEASED OFFENDERS TO SUCCESSFULLY RETURN INTO SOCIETY INCREASES WITH THE GROWTH OF INTEREST AND PARTICIPATION BY THE PUBLIC. -GERMAN- (INL)