Community Career Interview Activity, Interview Example

Abstract

In the present paper, the report of interview with Ashley Taflinger,the juvenile specialist on the position of programme director from Madison Juvenile Correctional Facility for females, is presented. The main information obtained during the conversation is outlined. Specifics of interview conduct are also mentioned. Some analytical considerations on the topic are underlined.

Key words: juvenile specialist, correction facility, rehabilitation programmes.

Community Career Interview Activity

In order to understand how a certain institution or job position functions in the community, one should meet people and have a constructive dialogue with them. In my case, for a better comprehension of how community assists juvenile delinquents, recently, I have interviewed Ashley Taflinger, the juvenile specialist on the position of programme director from Madison Juvenile Correctional Facility for females. She was so kind to devote some of her precious time for our conversation, on Monday afternoon, on 15^th of August 2011. The main reason why this organization was chosen is that this facility is the best example of how community is trying to build its future through the help of women as future mothers of the next generation. Ms Taflinger was chosen for the interview because she is the one who knows about rehabilitation programmes in details, since she is running and monitoring them.

During the interview a substantial knowledge about organization, its purposes and place in community was gained. First of all, Madison Juvenile Correctional Facility is authorized by Division of Youth Services of Indiana Department of Correction, and it favors both governmental and private sponsor funding. The main purpose of the facility is to encourage successful development of young women with previous behavioral problems. The main services provided include reception and diagnoses of deviances in females’ behavior and development of appropriate programme for its improvement. The main specific of the centre is in the diversity of programmes which include Criminal and Addictive Thinking, Anger Control, Healthy Relationship, Employability Skills and special psychological programmes targeting prevention of relapses, suicidal inclinations and depressive states.

According to Ms Taflinger, the main contribution of the facility to community residents is in giving hope to the most desperate young women, who had lost their ways in life. From the theoretical perspective, this facility contributes to safety provision in the community, since its inmates are usually convicted for violent and weapon-involving offences. Thus, due to the maximum security regime, community is separated from a potential threat of recidivism (Corriero, 2006).  On the other hand, instead of going to prison and having rehabilitation programmes, young offenders have an opportunity to return into local community as its equal and all-sufficient members. Thus, they become a positive example to follow and effective labor and social elements of the community (Leone and Cutting, 2004). This facility also contributes to the health improvement of the local population, since current young females are future mothers (Corriero, 2006).

Most of the individuals are directed into this facility as an option of avoiding jail or any other punishment. Therefore, correction is preferred over punishment. Since the facility is under authority of Indiana Department of Correction, juveniles are not paying for their rehabilitation, mixed funding is governmental and of private donations. The importance of the facility is that if it did not exist, its inmates would end up in jail right away, and would be denied of rehabilitation. Subsequently, the local crime rate and level of recidivism would be much higher than current ones (Leone and Cutting, 2004). According to Ms Taflinger, after successful completion of programmes, most of the young women feel themselves more empowered and self-confident. They are more likely to adjust their relations with families, find the right job and happily marry. Although not all inmates succeed, but this facility option does more goodness than immediate imprisonment of juveniles.

Overall, interview went well. Most of the questions were eagerly answered by Ms Taflinger, except for financial aspect. The exact figure of available funds was not stated, since it is not public information. From this interview, I have acquired useful information about practical conduct of juvenile correction programmes, particularly for women. This information will help to broaden my perception of justice from the social benefits perspective, which would help in my intended career as an animal law enforcement official. The programmes of this facility are crucial for the building of the future society of healthy and successful people – new generation of American citizens.

References

Corriero, M.A. (2006). Judging Children as Children: A proposal For Juvenile Justice System. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.

Leone, P.E. and Cutting, C.A. (2004). Appropriate Education, Juvenile Corrections, and No Child Left behind. Behavioral Disorders, 29(3), pp. 260-279.