Individual prisoner coaching

Role of the volunteer 

• Intake of prisoners onto our program: Volunteers interview new prisoners upon admission to determine what kind of care is desirable and needed and set out a specific plan for the prisoner. Qualitative standards: - Where possible, the ability to come to a concrete inventory of wishes, expectations, social network, etc. 

• Personal support to prisoners. Volunteers visit prisoners in prison and offer a listening ear. Sometimes the contact is limited to correspondence with prisoners. They refer prisoners to other aid agencies, if needed and desired. Qualitative standards: 

• be able to develop a confidential relationship. 

• be able to see the prisoner disassociated from his crime - be able to focus attention exclusively on the other person. 

• be able to timely discern the functional relationship with other agencies. 

• be able to know how to deal with the dilemma of distance and nearness 

• be able to take and dare to choose a position regarding one's own role, be able to make this clear to the prisoner and be consistent in sticking to it 

• to know the prison procedures as well as the procedures of PF and act in accordance with these. 

• Personal and practical support members of the family of prisoners. Volunteers visit members of the prisoner's family upon their request, offer them a listening ear and assist with all kinds of practical problems. They supervise group gatherings of the members of the prisoner's family, though not independently. Qualitative standards:

• be able to develop a confidential relationship. 

• be able to focus attention exclusively on the other person. 

• be able to timely discern the functional relationship with other agencies 

• be able to know how to deal with the dilemma of distance and nearness 

• be able to distinguish the need for practical support and act accordingly 

• be able and dare to take a position regarding one's own role, 

• be able to make this role clear to the members of the prisoner's family and be consistent in sticking to it 

• to know the procedures and be able to act in accordance with them.   

• Support during reintegration of prisoners. Volunteers discuss with the prisoner, when and wherever possible during the time of imprisonment, the important conditions required for a return to and for a successful re- integration into society. They assist prisoners with the finding of living accommodations, looking for a job, finding a reception centre, etc. and with the reorganization of their debts. They point out the necessity of mediation within the office of the foundation and fulfil the role of intermediary between the prisoner and the office. (the execution hereof is the domain of the office itself) Qualitative standards:

  • be able to discern the need for practical support and act accordingly. 

  • be able to motivate the other person in regard to taking an active role in his own process of reintegration. 

  • be able to be transparent about the possibilities of/for the prisoner. 

• In my view it is essential that the foundation reflects on the role of the volunteer in the process of re- integration (which concerns are there, what kind of support is there from the Foundation office) and the working with other agencies that render help etc. during the time of detention. I plead for limiting the role of the volunteer to the visiting of and talking with the prisoner and the prisoner's family. All other work pertaining to the re-integration of the prisoner should be done by the office (especially the looking for living accommodation, searching for a job and the reorganizing of debts ask for much tenacity, but preferably from a rational perspective and not out of a personal concern for the prisoner or a member of his family). The volunteer remains the contact point for the prisoner. Apart from that, in this proposal there is a risk of harmful damage to the organisation. For, a volunteers' organisation depends on the concern of its volunteers. Formalising roles to too great an extent along with the bureaucracy which goes with it, often make enthusiasm and joy disappear all too soon. Moreover, facilitating a volunteer's reflection needs attention by the office during the time of care. (Is there a structured form of coaching, intervision, etc.?)  

• Additional services. Volunteers provide aid and support with various activities, such as the transporting of prisoners, the taking round of gift parcels for members of the prisoner's family or to prisoners on birthdays or at Christmas, but also give administrative and logistical support for other additional projects and current activities of the foundation. Where possible, they look after the operational contact with agencies and departments both within and outside of the prison. Qualitative standards 

  • to know the procedures of Gevangenenzorg and act in accordance with them.

  • be able to develop a confidential relationship.

  • be able to see the prisoner disassociated from his crime or from his family. - 

  • be able to focus attention exclusively on the other person. 

  • be able to timely discern the functional relationship with other agencies. 

  • be able to know how to deal with the dilemma of distance and nearness. 

• Progress- and other reports. Volunteers regularly report on all contacts that they have with the prisoner, the prisoner's family and/or other care-giving agencies, etc., as well as the care given to the prisoner and his family. Where possible, they report on anything conspicuous regarding the prisoner's welfare, his integration and any regression in ambition. Qualitative standards: 

  • be able to write reports that are consistent and contain solid content. - be able to work within the reporting deadlines. 

  • be able to guarantee the confidentiality of the relationship with the prisoner. 

• Promotion and the recruiting of new volunteers and donors. Volunteers actively assist, where possible, in the recruitment of new volunteers and donors for the foundation by propagating the activities of the foundation. For example: within their own churches, by approaching people directly, but also by giving presentations. Qualitative standards 

  • be able to be representative (in word and deed) 

  • to know the procedures of Gevangenenzorg and act in accordance with them 

  • to know what the vision, mission, objectives, projects and activities of Gevangenenzorg are. 

  • be able to develop a confidential relationship. 

  • be able to see the prisoner disassociated from his crime and his family.