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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1976
VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS
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TWENTY-FIVE VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN ENROLLED TO HELP PROBATIONERS IN A SCHEME RECENTLY INTRODUCED BY THE PROBATION AND CORRECTIONS DIVISION OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
KNOWN AS THE +VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS+, THE PROJECT IS PART OF THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME FOR MINOR OFFENDERS. THE AIM IS TO PROVIDE PERSONAL AND MORAL SUPPORT TO YOUNG OFFENDERS ON PROBATION.
THE VOLUNTEERS ARE FROM A CROSS-SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY AND THEY INCLUDE STUDENTS, NURSES, LIBRARIANS, TEACHERS AND FACTORY WORKERS. THEY ARE AGED BETWEEN 20 AND 60.
A TEA RECEPTION WILL BE HELD TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AFTERNOON AT THE LADY TRENCH TRAINING CENTRE TO EXPLAIN THE SCHEME TO THE VOLUNTEERS AND ALSO TO LET THEM HAVE A CHANCE TO MEET ONE ANOTHER.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID: +AFTER THE INITIAL INTRODUCTION, TRAINING SESSIONS WILL BE ARRANGED FOR THE VOLUNTEERS AT A LATER STAGE.
+ THE TRAINING PROGRAMME INCLUDES TALKS, GROUP DISCUSSIONS AND OBSERVATION VISITS, ALL OF WHICH WILL ENABLE THEM TO ACQUIRE THE BASIC KNOWLEDGE ON THE CONCEPT OF PROBATION SERVICE, COURT PROCEDURES, SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF THE OFFENDERS AND THEIR ROLE AND FUNCTION IN THE SCHEME.+
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+WHEN THEY ARE PROPERLY ORIENTATED, + HE CONTINUED, THEY WILL BE MATCHED TO THE PROBATIONERS AND START HELPING AND REFORMING THEM. +
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF THE SCHEME WAS THAT A YOUNG OFFENDER MIGHT FEEL MORE AT EASE AND LESS SUSPICIOUS TOWARDS A VOLUNTEER WHO WAS NOT SPECIALLY ASSIGNED BY THE AUTHORITY TO KEEP AN EYE ON HIM.
THE PROBATIONER, HE EMPHASISED, WOULD REGARD THE VOLUNTEER AS HIS FRIEND AND WOULD CONFIDE HIS SECRETS TO HIM,
SOMETIMES, HE WENT ON, A PROBATIONER MIGHT HAVE SPECIAL INTERESTS OR TALENTS SUCH AS IN ART OR MUSIC AND A VOLUNTARY WORKER WITH THE SAME INTERESTS COULD MUCH MORE EFFECTIVELY HELP THE PROBATIONER.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE SCHEME SHOULD HELP REDUCE THE RATE OF RECIDIVISM BECAUSE A VOLUNTEER COULD ALWAYS LEAD THE PROBATIONER TO A NEW CARCLE OF FRIENDS, THUS HELPING HIM TO BREAK AWAY FROM HIS FORMER BAD ASSOCIATES.