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Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
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Results for voluntary and community organizations
9 results foundAuthor: Mills, Helen Title: Policy, Purpose and Pragmatism: Dilemmas for Voluntary and Community Organisations Working with Black Young People Affected by Crime Summary: This report addresses the experiences of voluntary and community organizations (VCOs) who mainly work with young black individuals affected by crime. Details: London: Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, 2009 Source: Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 116491 Keywords: JuvenilesVoluntary and Community Organizations |
Author: Stevenson, Nicky Title: Reducing Re-Offending Through Social Enterprise: Social Enterprises Working with Prisons and Probation Services - A Mapping Exercise for National Offender Management Service Summary: The primary purpose of this report is to inform the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) about the current level of activity of social enterprises working with prisons and probation services in England. Its secondary purpose is to assist the social enterprise sector to position itself to develop new opportunities identified by the findings. The report is structured to meet these two purposes. Chapters include: An executive summary – a short summary of the key findings and recommendations; Part 1 of the full report – background, methodology and context; Part 2 of the full report – detailed findings from the data collection; and Part 3 of the full report – analysis of the findings findings, signposting future opportunities, summary and recommendations. The research was carried out between May and August 2009 by Concilium, using a mixed methods approach. In undertaking this work, 100% of probation services and 72% of prisons were interviewed. In total, 38 extended interviews took place with prisons and probation services, 20 with prisons and 18 with probation services. 82 social enterprises completed the on-line survey and 18 social enterprises were interviewed. The full report includes an analysis of the data from each of these sources, a series of case studies showing examples of how social enterprises are currently working with prisons and probation services and a series of recommendations for NOMS and the social enterprise sector to address. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2009. 122p. Source: Internet Resource; Accessed August 10, 2010 at http://www.justice.gov.uk/social-enterprise-prison-probation.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/social-enterprise-prison-probation.pdf Shelf Number: 117544 Keywords: Ex-Offenders (U.K.)PrisonersPrisonsProbationVoluntary and Community Organizations |
Author: McDonald, Douglas Title: The Effectiveness of Prisoner Reentry Services as Crime-Control: The Fortune Society Summary: The Fortune Society, located in New York City, provides various services on a voluntary basis to offenders who have been incarcerated previously, at an average cost (in 2005) of about $3,265 per client. This study examines the extent to which receipt of these services reduces recidivism and homelessness following release. Recidivism is measured by an arrest leading to conviction; homelessness is indicated by a request to the NYC Department of Homeless Services for shelter. Fortune clients released to NYC from state prisons or from NYC jails during 2000-2005 are examined and their outcomes are compared to outcomes observed for state prisoners or local jail inmates released during same period but who did not go to Fortune. Multivariate survival analyses and propensity score analyses are used to estimate program effects on recidivism. No evidence of positive effects on recidivism is found. Indeed, Fortune clients were more likely to recidivate than non-clients, even after controlling for several measured differences among them. This should not be interpreted as showing that Fortune has negative effects on clients but instead that all differences associated with risk were not measured for lack of sufficient information. Fortune clients typically have long criminal records, little education, no legitimate employment, few employable skills, and are dependent upon others for housing. Their participation rates in Fortune’s services were generally low: one in four dropped out, and fewer than half completed the course of services. Half participated in no more than nine group sessions, whereas the most active 25% received 36 or more group sessions. Given clients’ generally dire circumstances, such low participation rates make it unlikely that positive program effects are achievable for the client population as a whole. Released prisoners are at high risk of homelessness. Using multivariate survival analysis techniques to account for the effects of measured differences among clients and non-clients, we estimate that participation in Fortune’s services has a positive effect on released jail prisoners’ ability to avoid homelessness throughout the years following release. No similar effect was found for released state prisoners, however. One possible explanation of this is that returning state prisoners have more access to services than returning city jail prisoners (90% of state prisoners leave under parole supervision), with the result that Fortune’s contribution of services is relatively greater for city prisoners, and possibly more effective for them. This hypothesis was not tested for lack of information about services to non-clients. Details: Cambridge, MA: Abt Associates, 2008. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: Accesssed September 22, 2010 at: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/225369.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/225369.pdf Shelf Number: 113422 Keywords: HomelessnessRecidivismReentryVoluntary and Community Organizations |
Author: Davey, Corinne Title: Change starts with us, talk to us! Beneficiary perceptions regarding the effectiveness of measures to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse by humanitarian aid workers: a HAP commissioned study Summary: This research, conducted in Haiti, Kenya and Thailand, was commissioned by the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP), and sought to capture the views of beneficiaries of humanitarian assistance on the effectiveness of measures put in place to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) by humanitarian workers. This study is a follow up to similar research, also on behalf of HAP, conducted by Lattu in 20081. It examines whether organisations have worked effectively on PSEA measures in the intervening three years, such that beneficiaries now feel safer, more confident to report exploitation and abuse, and more assured that reports will be addressed appropriately. The review analyses the findings and recommendations of existing research, and examines humanitarian organisational policies, guidelines and standards for PSEA. It includes the views of UN and NGO personnel working in the three countries on how these policies and procedures are being implemented, what support they are receiving to set up appropriate mechanisms to protect vulnerable people from SEA and, most importantly, the views of beneficiaries on the effectiveness of these measures. The choice of the focus countries was made in part to provide some comparison over time, since Kenya and Thailand were featured in the previous study. In addition, the three countries cover different regions of the world, and represent different contexts and scenarios in relation to PSEA implementation. In Kenya, a PSEA initiative ended shortly before Lattu’s 2008 research. Two years on, there was now the opportunity to track the sustainability of previous PSEA efforts. Research in Kenya was also conducted in Kibera, one of the largest urban slums in Africa, which allowed for a comparison of measures adopted in an urban development context with those in the camps. In Thailand, a three-year initiative on PSEA was ending, which offered useful learning on the impact of a consistent and concerted effort. The recent earthquake in Haiti provided an example of how PSEA measures are being implemented in the context of a large-scale, rapid onset disaster. Consultation with groups of women, men, girls and boys inform the main findings of the research. A total of 732 beneficiaries participated in the study across the three countries, of which 411 were female and 321 male. The researchers elicited community opinions on exploitation and abuse by humanitarian workers but set this in the context of the exploitation and abuse that camp and host communities experience at the hands of other perpetrators, including members of their own communities. In doing so, the researchers were able to explore the impact of initiatives, such as those on gender-based violence (GBV) and child protection, to understand how these have been coordinated with organisational policies to ensure protection from exploitation and abuse by humanitarian workers. Beneficiaries in all locations, to a greater or lesser extent, reported that they still feel at risk of exploitation and abuse by humanitarian workers. In addition to sexual abuse and exploitation by humanitarian workers, the report describes high levels of violations occurring in the beneficiary populations at the hands of others. Organisational efforts to discuss issues of SEA with beneficiaries appear variable from location to location. Some organisations have put in place effective awareness-raising mechanisms, such as hiring a protection officer, holding regular group meetings, or the use of theatre and drama. These are proving effective in Thailand and in some camps in Haiti. However, the most common feedback from beneficiaries is that organisations have not discussed SEA with them, and that little has been agreed between organisations and beneficiaries to prevent SEA taking place. Under-reporting is still a major issue. Most beneficiaries say they would report SEA by humanitarian workers, but the actual number of reported cases does not appear to bear this out. Reporting depends on a number of factors, principally whether beneficiaries are clear on how to make the report, and the extent to which the reporting mechanism is considered confidential. Providing information to beneficiaries is a major challenge. The use of complaints boxes has not been well received by beneficiaries in Kenya because they are not perceived as being confidential. The lack of clear reporting mechanisms, including identified people to report to, is also a significant barrier to complaining. This reflects an opinion in all three countries. Most beneficiaries who were able to describe the reporting process, articulated a route they had devised themselves rather than a formal reporting mechanism designed by the organisations. In asking beneficiaries what formal process might help them in reporting, women generally wanted organisations to establish a specific place where reports could be made. Reporting also depends on whether or not beneficiaries see the incident as exploitative (consensual sex between humanitarian workers and beneficiaries may not necessarily by considered exploitative) and whether beneficiaries feel they have enough evidence to make a report. At times, it appears simply to be a matter of staff attitude. It is clear from the research, however, that the risk of exploitation and abuse of beneficiaries by humanitarian workers decreases when PSEA initiatives are consistently implemented. In Haiti, the risk was seen as highest in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake before PSEA initiatives were introduced. In Kenya, the 2004 – 2007 PSEA project was perceived to have made improvements in the situation for beneficiaries. However, since the three-year project ended and PSEA was incorporated into GBV work, some declines were noted. In Thailand, a concerted and coordinated effort has seen the cases of SEA by humanitarian aid workers reduce significantly. The recommendations in this report aimed at improving the effectiveness of agencies’ PSEA efforts are drawn from both beneficiaries’ suggestions and the researchers’ analysis. The report has been structured as follows: the introduction provides a background on PSEA efforts since 2002, other research that has been conducted, and the contexts in which research for this report was carried out. The main body of the report is designed to give the reader a sense of the beneficiaries’ voices - the section titles are formed as beneficiaries’ questions, and populated with actual quotes obtained during the country visits. Following the section on conclusions and recommendations, the report provides individual chapters focused on each country visited, giving more detail on the circumstances there, and the issues and perceptions of particular relevance to beneficiaries located in those countries. Details: Geneva, Switzerland: The Humanitarian Accountability Partnership International, 2010. 124p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 17, 2012 at http://www.hapinternational.org/pool/files/change-starts-with-us.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.hapinternational.org/pool/files/change-starts-with-us.pdf Shelf Number: 124158 Keywords: Human RightsSex Exploitation (Haiti) (Kenya) (Thailand)Sexual AbuseVoluntary and Community Organizations |
Author: Centre for Social Justice Title: The New Probation Landscape: Why the voluntary sector matters if we are going to reduce reoffending Summary: The Ministry of Justice is in the process of implementing an extensive programme of reform for the delivery of probation services across England and Wales. As part of this agenda, which is designed to reduce 'stubbornly high rates of reoffending', work with approximately 236,000 low- and medium-risk offenders will be contracted out to private and voluntary organisations and statutory support will be extended to prisoners on short sentences. If these reforms are to be successful they will need to consist of strong and resilient partnerships between the private and voluntary sectors. This paper is designed to inform those partnerships and sets the nature of the organisations that make-up the sector; why they're important; and what they think about the reforms. Details: London: Centre for Social Justice, 2013. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 11, 2013 at: http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/UserStorage/pdf/Pdf%20reports/landscape.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/UserStorage/pdf/Pdf%20reports/landscape.pdf Shelf Number: 131625 Keywords: PartnershipsPrivatizationProbation (U.K.)Voluntary and Community Organizations |
Author: Damooei, Jamshid Title: The Evaluation Report For Targeted ReEntry Program of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme Summary: Crime devastates victims, communities, and even perpetrators. Over the last several decades, the United States has faced serious problems with its criminal justice system. The population of incarcerated Americans has grown tenfold since 1970 and those who have been released from prison are more likely than not to return to prison. The vicious cycle of imprisonment, release, and imprisonment need to be reduced and if possible stopped. In the last decade, there has been renewed interest in programs that are intended to reduce the recidivism rate of released prisoners. The Targeted Reentry Program of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme is one such program that focuses on the needs of at‐risk juvenile offenders. The program provides services to youth offenders from the time the time they are detained in juvenile facilities through their release and reintegration with the community. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme rely on several collaborators to provide specialized services that are beyond their purview. These collaborators include: - Palmer Drug Abuse Program - Ventura County Public Health - The Ventura County Probation Agency - The Coalition to End Family Violence This study has worked to collect data both from the management of and participants in the Targeted Reentry Program in order to determine the effectiveness of the services provided. Based on these findings, the program proves to be an effective resource in the lives of these young people. Participants perceive the services to be effective and they consistently utilize everything that the program has to offer. Moreover, the rates of recidivism are relatively low and they seem to be gainfully engaged in the community upon release. Data collected through studying the records of program management indicate the following: - Significant proportions (36%) of youths who have received the program services are currently employed. - 84% of those who have participated in the Targeted Reentry Program are either currently in school or they have earned academic credentials that could help them become employed. Most encouragingly, 10% are currently pursuing secondary education beyond high school. - 36% of program participants received counseling services while they were inside the juvenile facility. - 86% of those who received counseling while they were in detention continued to receive counseling after they left the facility and began reintegrating into their communities. - The vast majority of respondents (70%) received substance abuse treatment inside the juvenile facility. This is a significant finding. First, it speaks to the success and ability of the Targeted Reentry Program to provide a service to a large number of program participants. Second, it indicates just how many of the youths entering the program is in need of substance abuse treatment. The majority of participants (52%) who received substance abuse treatment within the Juvenile Facility indicate that they continued to receive such treatment after they released into the community. - 85% of those who participated in the Targeted Reentry Program were not returned to the juvenile facility after their release only for a new offense. In addition to consulting the records of program management, the research team prepared a survey that was administered to program participants. The results of the survey are as follows: - At the time respondents filled out the questionnaire, a majority (53.5%) were legal adults over the age of eighteen. - When entering the program, juvenile offenders were between the ages of 14 and 17. The largest share of respondents (46.7%) was 17 when beginning the program. - Nearly three‐fourths of respondents (73.3%) are males. - 53.3% of respondents indicate that they are full‐time high school students not currently employed. An additional 13.4% are also studying; 6.7% are attending community college fulltime while another 6.7% are attending college while working. An additional third of respondents are no longer pursuing an education. 20% are working full‐time while 13.3% are working parttime jobs. - All respondents to the survey are either working or studying. This means that all these individuals are on the path to having a more stable life. - The findings of the program participant survey are quite promising. Only 13.3% of survey respondents indicate that they have had new charges filed against them after exiting the Targeted Reentry Program for the first time. This level of recidivism is significantly less than national levels that are generally in excess of 60%. - All survey respondents believed that the Targeted Reentry Program helped them to "find [the] real sources of my [their] problems." Specifically, 60% believed the program was very successful while 40% believed it to be only successful in this regard. - All survey respondents indicated that the program changed the way they deal with their problems for the better. This is further evidence that the services of the program are helping to develop pro‐social behavior among participants. - All survey respondents indicated that the program was successful in making them more hopeful about their lives. This is the third question in which program participants indicate unanimously that the program has encouraged pro‐social behavior. - 93.3% of respondents indicate that the program successfully gave them the opportunity to meet people who care about them and their wellbeing. - All survey respondents believe that the program taught them the value of an education for a better life in the future. Such motivation may help them become more likely to take their education seriously. - 86.7% of respondents believe that the program was successful in teaching them useful skills that will help them succeed in the job market. Once again, this finding touches on the issue of employability and the need for helping these youth offenders find stable livelihoods that will encourage them to avoid criminal activity. - Another area in which the program seems to help participants is in allowing them to appreciate the importance of health living. Respondents unanimously believed that the program was successful in teaching them the importance of healthy living. Details: Oxnard, CA: Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme, 2010. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 23, 2013 at: http://www.bgcop.org/aboutus/impact/tre_report.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.bgcop.org/aboutus/impact/tre_report.pdf Shelf Number: 131696 Keywords: At-Risk YouthBoys and Girls ClubsJuvenile OffendersJuvenile ReentryReentry (California)RehabilitationReintegrationVoluntary and Community Organizations |
Author: Hutton, Linda Title: 'Moving On': Throughcare for Young Male Offenders in Renfrewshire. A report on outcomes in relation to the 3-year service evaluation Summary: Moving On Renfrewshire' started as a partnership between Action for Children, Fairbridge and the Prince's Trust as a response to the significant number of individual voluntary organisations working in Polmont YOI. Eligible young people are identified as soon as possible after they enter custody. A 'youth work' approach is taken to support the young offenders and linkages are made with other services both during and after custody. The evaluation of the project notes high levels of voluntary engagement with 81% of the young people who were referred to the project engaging with it in prison and 75% continuing to engage with it post-release. The project was found to contribute towards reductions in reoffending rates, improved physical and mental wellbeing and improved personal relationships. Details: Glasgow: Robertson Trust, 2011. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 24, 2014 at: http://www.therobertsontrust.org.uk/index.php/publicationstemp/offenders-and-their-families/ Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.therobertsontrust.org.uk/index.php/publicationstemp/offenders-and-their-families/ Shelf Number: 133409 Keywords: Juvenile AftercareJuvenile ReentryOffender RehabilitationVoluntary and Community OrganizationsYouthful Offenders (U.K.) |
Author: Wadia, Avan Title: The Informal Mentoring Project: A Process Evaluation Summary: The Mentoring and Befriending Foundation define mentoring as "a voluntary, mutually beneficial and purposeful relationship in which an individual gives time to support another to enable them to make changes in their life". The Informal Mentoring Project was introduced by NOMS and Clinks with the aim of increasing the support available for offenders leaving prison, helping them to reintegrate into society and move towards desistance from crime. It was envisaged that the Informal Mentoring Project would: - provide short-term "light touch" mentoring so that offenders could receive one-to-one support following their release from prison and access services in the community - capacity build existing local organisations to provide mentoring for offenders and - enable offenders to build supportive, trusting relationships with local community members through using local volunteers (including ex-offenders) as mentors. Two organisations ran pilot projects, selected for their differing infrastructure models. Catch22, a national charity, worked with local providers to mentor offenders released from HMP Nottingham. Sefton CVS, a local infrastructure organisation, recruited mentors to work with offenders from HMP Liverpool resettling in the Liverpool and Sefton areas. This report summarises the findings from a process evaluation examining the set-up and implementation of the project. The evaluation ran from March 2011 to November 2012. Although the pilot and evaluation pre-date the Transforming Rehabilitation proposals, the lessons learnt are relevant for understanding the benefits and challenges of undertaking mentoring with offenders, and providing services "through the gate". Details: London: National Offender Management Service, 2015. 75p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 30, 2015 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/448803/informal-mentoring-project.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/448803/informal-mentoring-project.pdf Shelf Number: 136263 Keywords: MentoringPrisoner ReentryRehabilitationVoluntary and Community OrganizationsVolunteers |
Author: Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland Title: Equal Partners: An Inspection of the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise Sector's Engagement with the Criminal Justice System in Northern Ireland Summary: What is the Third Sector? The Third Sector is an umbrella term that covers a range of different organisations with different structures and purposes, belonging neither to the public sector (i.e. the state) nor to the private sector (profit-making private enterprise). Other terms are used to describe such organisations - the voluntary sector, non-governmental organisations, non-profit organisations - particularly in public discussions around policy and politics. Third Sector organisations include: - charities; - voluntary and community organisations; - social enterprises and cooperatives; - 'Think tanks' and private research institutes (this does not include universities and colleges); and - some organisations, such as housing associations, have been spun off from government and are considered quasi-third sector groups, even though they deliver public services. In Northern Ireland, the Department for Communities (DfC), is the government agency currently tasked with overseeing and managing the relationship between the Third Sector and the government. What does the Third Sector do? Typically most Third Sector organisations dedicate themselves either to a particular issue which needs solving (e.g. prison reform or homelessness); or to a particular group in society (e.g. ex-offenders or victims of domestic violence) who require support and representation. They may provide services related to these issues (e.g. running a women's shelter, or providing legal advice) in the past due to an absence of public provided services, although now they are often funded by government (86% of Third Sector bodies in Northern Ireland receive some government funding). Some organisations (particularly think tanks and research institutes) may work on a wider range of issues, with a local, national or global focus. As well as delivering direct services, Third Sector groups will commission or carry out research into subjects that affect the groups and issues they deal with. They also aim to raise public awareness shape public policy through public campaigns, lobbying politicians and influencing government officials. Funding landscape -- When compared to the state of the Sector as reported in the 2013 CJI report A review of the Voluntary and Community Sector's involvement in the Northern Ireland criminal justice system. Third Sector Chief Executives in 2018 said financial pressures were the most challenging they had faced with difficult decisions giving rise to redundancies, reduced working hours and consolidation of offices and regional centres. Yet, the demand for services to young people and children, victims of domestic and sexual violence, offenders with substance abuse issues and support for offenders in the community had increased. The latest Ulster Bank and CO3 Third Sector Index showed that nearly 60% of Third Sector leaders expect it to shrink over the next three years with 28% reporting cash flow problems in 2017. According to the Index, more than 75% of leaders say that the lack of a Northern Ireland Executive is harming their organisations, bringing funding issues, a lack of decision-making and uncertainty. Over 70% said they expected the political situation here to become less stable, while two-thirds said they expect the economic situation to deteriorate. Between 2009 and 2014 funding to the Third Sector fell by 33% from L742 million to L574 million with an estimated 6,127 bodies operating in the sector. The mix of funding remained diverse with key contributors being Central Government (34%), statutory bodies and other agencies (34%) and public donations (30%). Funding from the European Union (EU); Big Lottery and philanthropic trusts remained generally stable over this period, although there is uncertainty over EU funding and a major funder Atlantic Philanthropies, has gradually withdrawn. On a positive note, the Third Sector was adept at attracting funding and the diversity of funding sources was a particular strength. The Fresh Start (now known as Tackling Paramilitarism) and Social Investment Fund (SIF) initiatives provided additional resources. At the time of this inspection the Department of Justice (DoJ) was proposing a full cost recovery funding model that would eventually replace the current system whereby certain bodies received core funding as well as project funding. This aimed to achieve better value for money and greater transparency. The DoJ model included a transition phase to cushion organisations against a sudden loss of core funding as well as co-ordinating other departments' funding approaches to create a level playing field. There were some critics of this approach who stated that losing core funding would have a negative impact on the Third Sector's capacity to delivery advocacy, critical challenge and leveraging of additional funding. Details: Belfast: Author, 2019. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 8, 2019 at: http://cjini.org/getattachment/10b06492-2ec0-4566-b608-6adabd822563/report.aspx Year: 2019 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://cjini.org/getattachment/10b06492-2ec0-4566-b608-6adabd822563/report.aspx Shelf Number: 155686 Keywords: Charitable TrustsVoluntary AgenciesVoluntary and Community Organizations Volunteers in Criminal Justice |