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TRAINING VOLUNTEER PROBATION WORKERS - A SURVEY OF PRIORITIES AS PERCEIVED BY ADMINISTRATORS AND VOLUNTEERS

NCJ Number
49223
Author(s)
J W GILL
Date Published
1976
Length
120 pages
Annotation
RANKINGS OF TRAINING GOALS AND CRITICAL INCIDENTS WERE OBTAINED THROUGH QUESTIONNAIRES MAILED TO PROBATION PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS AND VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE NATION.
Abstract
A TOTAL OF 46 ADMINISTRATORS REPRESENTING JUVENILE PROBATION VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS IN 28 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND 21 VOLUNTEERS IN SUCH PROGRAMS IN 15 STATES COMPLETED THE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE. THE RESPONDENTS WERE CONSIDERED BY TYPE OF PROGRAM, SIZE, GEOGRAPHICAL AREA, AND EXTENT OF TRAINING OFFERED TO VOLUNTEER WORKERS. MOST OF THE ADMINISTRATOR RESPONDENTS REPRESENTED URBAN JUVENILE COURT PROGRAMS WITH 50 OR MORE VOLUNTEERS. MOST OF THE VOLUNTEER RESPONDENTS REPRESENTED RURAL, JUVENILE COURT PROGRAMS WITH 50 OR MORE VOLUNTEERS. TEN IDENTIFIED GOALS OF TRAINING FOR VOLUNTEERS WERE PRIORITY RANKED BY THE RESPONDENTS. ADMINISTRATORS AND VOLUNTEERS RANKED TRAINING GOALS ABOUT THE SAME AND THE HIGHEST TWO GOAL PRIORITIES WERE RANKED IDENTICALLY. THE HIGHEST RANKING PRIORITIES WERE RELATED TO LISTENING, COMMUNICATION, AND HUMAN RELATIONS SKILLS. UNDERSTANDING THE LOCAL ORGANIZATION'S PHILOSOPHY, POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES WAS ALSO HIGHLY RANKED. THERE WERE APPARENTLY FEW DIFFERENCES IN VOLUNTEERS' RANKINGS OF TRAINING GOALS ACCORDING TO IDENTIFIED SUBGROUPS. THE REPORTED CRITICAL INCIDENTS WERE GENERALLY IN THE TRAINING NEED AREAS MOST HIGHLY RANKED FOR TRAINING GOALS. THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT, RESPONSE DATA, AND THE REPORTED CRITICAL INCIDENTS ARE INCLUDED. A HISTORY OF VOLUNTEERS IN PROBATION AND A REVIEW OF LITERATURE ARE ALSO PROVIDED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED.