XN000022-1986-03-01 — Page 2

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SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1986,

VOLUNTEERS GET READY TO HELP PROBATIONERS

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THE COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS SCHEME IS EXPECTED TO BE

INTRODUCED IN THE LATTER PART OF THIS YEAR, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE (OPERATIONS), MRS EVELYN DOE SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS, MRS DOE SAID OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT WERE WORKING HARD IN PREPARATION. FOR THE PILOT SCHEME.

COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS ARE INTENDED TO BE USED AS AN OPTION FOR THE COURTS TO DEAL WITH CERTAIN TYPE OF OFFENDERS WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE RECEIVED CUSTODIAL SENTENCES.

COMMENTING ON THE VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS, MRS DOE NOTED THAT THE EXPERIENCE OF VOLUNTEERS WHO HELPED IN REHABILITATING PROBATIONERS COULD BE VERY REWARDING WHEN THERE WAS POSITIVE RESPONSE TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.

THE VOLUNTEERS HAD AN IMPACT ON THE PROBATIONERS THAT WOULD PAVE THE WAY FOR CHANGES IN BEHAVIOUR AND ATTITUDE AND ENABLE THEM TO STAY AWAY FROM CRIME, SHE SAID.

TWENTY-FOUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WERE TODAY PRESENTED WITH CERTIFICATES OR SOUVENIRS FOR HELPING IN REHABILITATING OFFENDERS UNDER THE SCHEME.

NINETEEN VOLUNTEERS HAD COMPLETED A SIX-MONTH SERVICE TO BEFRIEND, TEACH, GUIDE AND HELP THOSE UNDER PROBATION, AND TEN HAD SERVED MORE THAN ONCE.

SPEAKING OF THE DEPARTMENT'S OWN EFFORTS IN HELPING PROBATIONERS, SHE SAID THAT DEPARTMENTAL PROBATION OFFICERS WERE CURRENTLY HELPING 3 469 PROBATIONERS WHO REMAINED AT HOME WITH THEIR OWN FAMILIES TO CONTINUE WITH THEIR NORMAL WORK OR EDUCATIONAL PURSUITS.

+FOR THOSE PROBATIONERS WHO FEEL THEY HAVE A NEED AND ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT THE HELP OF VOLUNTEERS, WE WILL ARRANGE TO MATCH ONE FOR EACH OF THEM, MRS DOE SAID.

SHE ALSO SAID THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE SERVICE TO COURTS.

IN 1984-85, THE DEPARTMENT'S PROBATION OFFICERS PRODUCED THE HIGHEST RECORD OF 8 763 SOCIAL ENQUIRY REPORTS ON PRE-SENTENCED OFFENDERS, PRISONERS DUE FOR LONG-TERM IMPRISONMENT REVIEW, AND THOSE CONDEMNED TO DEATH OR WHO WERE PETITIONING TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR CLEMENCY.

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