THE COMMITTEES WERE ESTABLISHED IN 1951 BY A JUSTICE MINISTER WHO ENVISAGED A PRISON AFTERCARE ORGANIZATION WHICH WOULD COMPRISE REPRESENTATIVES OF CHURCHES, WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS, AND A NUMBER OF BODIES WHO, FOR MANY YEARS, HAD BEEN TRADITIONALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE WELFARE OF PRISONERS. THE COMMITTEES ASSIST PRISONERS REFERRED TO THEM BY PAROLE OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIVE SERVICES, AND MEMBERSHIP HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE SERVICE CLUBS, COMMUNITY AID SERVICES, MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKERS, PRIVATE CITIZENS, AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE COMMITTEES ARE TO PROVIDE RELEASED PRISONERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PERSONAL REHABILITATION, TO COOPERATE WITH AND EXTEND THE FIELD WORK OF PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICERS, TO WORK FOR BETTER COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH PRISONER REHABILITATION, AND TO ASSIST THE DEPENDENTS OF PRISONERS THROUGH MATERIAL HELP AND ADVICE. WITH MEMBERSHIP EXCEEDING 500, THE COMMITTEES HELP WITH ACCOMMODATIONS, TOOLS OF TRADE, CLOTHING, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNTIL THE RELEASED PRISONERS RECEIVE THEIR FIRST PAY. THE RESOURCES OF THE COMMITTEES COME FROM AN ANNUAL GRANT FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT, SUPPLEMENTED BY FUNDS FROM INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WORK. THE GRANT COVERS FINANCIAL DISBURSEMENTS TO INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND MEETS THE COST OF ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. IT ALSO PROVIDES OFFICE ACCOMMODATIONS. THERE IS NO MONETARY REWARD FOR THE WORK--ONLY THE SATISFACTION OF HELPING OTHERS. (KBL)