ABSTRACT
When thinking about volunteering in corrections, one may initially think that they are limited to helping offenders in a jail or prison. However, volunteers can also assist staff in parole, probation, and other community correctional settings. Understanding the motivations of individuals who choose to volunteer in these types of settings and then placing volunteers in positions that complement their interests will help to retain volunteers. The process for becoming a volunteer in a correctional setting is multifaceted and is unlike other opportunities due to strict policies and procedures. Once appointed as a volunteer in one of these correctional settings, effective volunteers appear to share similar characteristics that are outlined below. This chapter concludes with a number of success stories describing how two individuals (i.e., the chapter authors) were able to transform their volunteer experiences into successful careers and how they benefited from an effective supervisor–volunteer relationship within a correctional facility.
