XN000022-1981-12-09 — Page 27

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WEDNESDAY, DECENT

9, 1981

+ IT IS OBVIOUS, MR ALLEYNE SAID, THAT THE PUBLIC CONCERN AND SUPPORT EXTENDED BY VOLUNTEERS UNDER THE VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS' HAVE FAR-REACHING POSITIVE EFFECTS IN THE OVERALL REHABILITATION OF PROBATIONERS.+

MR ALLEYNE CAID THAT TO BE QUALIFIED TO JOIN THE SCHEME AS A VOLUNTEER, ONE SHOULD PREFERABLY BE OVER 21, WITH AN EDUCATION STANDARD OF SECONDARY LEVEL OR ABOVE, BUT PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCE WOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED.

+VOLUNTEERS ARE ALSO EXPECTED BASICALLY TO HAVE A MATURE, SOCIABLE AND SYMPATHETIC PERSONALITY AND MOST IMPORTANT, BE WILLING TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH OFFENDERS AND TO SPARE THEIR OWN LEISURE TIME TO WORK WITH THEM.+

WHEN A VOLUNTEER IS READY TO START WORK AFTER ATTENDING AN ORIENTATION COURSE, HE WILL BE MATCHED WITH A PROBATIONER IN NEED OF HELP.

MR ALLEYNE SAID A SUCCESSFUL MATCHING MIGHT TAKE A LONG TIME, BUT THE EFFORT AND TIME SPENT WAS WORTHWHILE.

ONCE A MATCH IS MADE, THE VOLUNTEER CAN REALLY BEGIN HIS SERVICE BY PROVIDING PERSONAL ASSISTANCE TO THE PROBATIONER.

MR ALLEYNE SAID THAT SIX MONTHS WAS THE OPTIMUM PERIOD OF SERVICE, PROVIDED THAT THE PROBATION ORDER WAS STILL IN FORCE.

THE PERIOD IS SUBJECT TO REVIEW AND MAY BE EXTENDED TO THE DATE OF EXPIRY OF THE PROBATION ORDER IF THE PROBATION OFFICER CONSIDERS IT APPROPRIATE AND, SUBJECT TO THE CONSENT OF THE VOLUNTEER.

THE PERIOD OF SERVICE MAY ALSO BE TERMINATED AT ANY TIME BY THE MUTUAL CONSENT OF THE PROBATION OFFICER AND THE VOLUNTEER.

AFTER COMPLETING SIX MONTHS OF SERVICE, VOLUNTEERS ARE AWARDED CERTIFICATES OF APPLICATION.+

UP TO THE END OF 1980-81, 73 VOLUNTEERS HAD BEEN AWARDED SUCH CERTIFICATES.

IN 1981-82, 70 VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN RECRUITED AND TRAINED. +ATTEMPTS ARE BEING MADE BY THE PROBATION OFFICERS TO SELECT SUITABLE PROBATIONERS TO BE MATCHED TO THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE,+ MR ALLEYNE SAID.