Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.31299/ksi.28.2.2
Benefits of volunteering in Victim and Witness Support Departments
Nikica Hamer Vidmar
orcid.org/0000-0001-5083-2794
; Service for Victim and Witness Support, Ministry of Justice and Public Administration
Martina Bajto
; Service for Victim and Witness Support, Ministry of Justice and Public Administration
Abstract
Within the victims and witnesses support scheme, Victim and Witness Support Departments at county courts hire volunteers, mostly students, who undergo special training. Also, courts organize mentoring services and supervision of their work. This study analyses just how beneficial volunteer experience was for the court-based volunteers in terms of using the gained skills and knowledge in future work (in their current jobs).
The study covered 82 individuals who had previously volunteered in Victim and Witness Support Departments at Zagreb,
Osijek, Vukovar, Zadar, Split and Rijeka county courts. An online survey questionnaire was used for collecting the data.
The findings have shown that former volunteers thought that they benefited from skills and knowledge gained through volunteer experience in support departments in terms of their present employment. With regard to perceived benefits, no differences were observed among legal, helping and other professions given the type of job position. Almost half of respondents (41.3%) said that the previous volunteer experience improved their employment prospects. Respondents working in the legal field more commonly reported that previous volunteering benefited them in their job prospects. Respondents who had undergone three-day training considered volunteer experience more beneficial for future work than those who had received a two-day training course. Also, perceived benefits were ranked higher amongst those who had received trainings on communication skills and domestic violence. Perceived benefits of volunteer experience for current job were not connected to the duration of volunteering or the fact that they had been supervised. According to the findings, in respect of gained knowledge and skills, the respondents made most use of these aspects: working with vulnerable groups, communication skills, hands-on experience in communication with victims and witnesses and knowledge about the work of courts and functioning of judiciary. Apart from professional development, they thought that volunteer experience was beneficial for other areas of their lives. Accordingly, 97.5% of former volunteers would recommend volunteering in Victim and Witness Support Departments.
Keywords
victim; witness; support; volunteers; work
Hrčak ID:
248364
URI
Publication date:
22.12.2020.
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