Volunteers who wish to become mentors are interviewed by FOCUS staff for salient experience, i.e. working with other people in a teaching, counseling, therapy or advisory capacity or any other group. A mentor must be over 25 years of age and willing to provide guidance in life skills and decision making while holding a nonjudgmental perspective. The mentor should commit to not act either as a therapist or religious counselor, but to be willing to refer clients to others for these needs.
Volunteers should be prepared to make a commitment of at least one year. The mentoring relationship may last for a longer or shorter period depending on the offender's and mentor's assessment of the success of the relationship. As participation for both the mentor and client is voluntary, it may be ended at any point if either the client, mentor or both decide that termination is appropriate.
The mentor will spend 1-2 hours per week with the client. The mentor may spend additional time if he/she is willing and deems it necessary. When the mentor will be unavailable (vacation, illness, etc.) for a period of time, another FOCUS staff member fills in with the client, if appropriate.
Mentors receive 12 hours of preliminary training prior to becoming active in a same gender match. This includes an introduction to the legal system, FOCUS and Jail guidelines and protocols, victim sensitivity training, training in Motivational Interviewing and Stages of Change and information on setting boundaries and recognizing forms of manipulation. There is also 1.5 hours of mandatory orientation at the jail and a background check. Attendance at a 1 time per month evening workshop and 3 out of 6 annual Review Board evening meetings are also required. Mentors have access to an online database to report on their weekly meetings.
Extensive support is available to mentors. FOCUS staff and the therapists and criminal justice professionals associated with the program are also available for one on one discussion. Staff will initiate contact with mentors regularly just to check in.
If you are interested in becoming a FOCUS Mentor, please complete the application below (PDF or Word document available) and either email to us at
or print, complete, and mail to us at:
