What Is VIP and How Does It Work?
By Angela S. Tillotson

Volunteers in Parole, Inc. is a non-profit organization established in 1972 that matches attorney volunteers with men and women on parole and helps parolees successfully complete their parole through one-on-one mentorship and guidance. By receiving an extra level of personal support, VIP parolees become self-reliant and productive members of society. Through the inspiration and guidance of mentors, the chances of recidivism are significantly diminished.

How are matches made? Most parolee applicants are referred by either their parole agents or counselors at recovery. Each applicant fills out an application and go through an extensive interview with the VIP program director in which the parolee discusses his or her conviction history, substance abuse issues, family life, employment, education, goals, obstacles, and social interactions. The VIP program director reviews the applicant's field file with the parole agent and interviews the agent to determine suitability for the program. No parolee is ever admitted into the VIP program without his or her agent's approval.

VIP does not accept applicants with serious mental disorders or anyone who is believed to pose a threat to the safety of VIP participants. Whatever their commitment offenses, all of our potential mentees are taking steps to make changes for the better.

If the VIP program director believes that a particular attorney would be a good match for an applicant, the potential mentor is provided information about the parolee, including, but not limited to: commitment offenses, parole progress, obstacles, goals, substance abuse issues, any special conditions of parole that may have an impact on the mentee's participation in the program, and the name and telephone number of the parolee's parole agent.

If the potential mentor agrees to participate, the VIP program director talks to the parolee about his or her possible match. The information that the program director provides to the parolee is very limited and focuses on such obvious matters as shared interests and hobbies. We do not give out the mentor's contact information. In fact, VIP discourages mentors from giving match partners a home phone number and address unless they are fully comfortable with the idea. Some mentoring relationships have thrived on "at-home" activities such as cooking together or gatherings that bring together the families of the mentor and the parolee. In other cases, highly successful mentors have chosen to keep their volunteer service separate from their family life.

If the potential mentor and mentee agree to meet, a first meeting generally occurs at lunchtime or over coffee and the program director attends to make introductions less awkward. If the first meeting goes well and both the attorney volunteer and the parolee volunteer show interest in continuing, a second meeting is scheduled without the program director. After the second meeting, if both parties are still interested in pursuing a match, the match becomes "official."

The friendship develops at a pace that is comfortable for the match partners. They may meet as frequently or as little as they wish, with telephone contact between face-to-face meetings. The average time spent for a match is four to six hours per month, but there are no set maximums or minimums.

The program director will keep in contact with both mentor and mentee to track the progress of the match and work with the match partners if concerns arise. Once a month, mentors are contacted by either email or telephone to collect the number of hours spent on behalf of the match. There is no paperwork to fill out. We want this to be a fun and rewarding experience, not another "job." The program is completely voluntary for all parties involved. A match can be terminated at anytime that either a mentor or mentee wishes for any reason.

There are only two rules to the VIP program. First, attorney volunteers cannot provide legal representation to their own mentees. Second, attorney volunteers cannot loan money to mentees. VIP is dedicated to encouraging friendship and positive support to individuals turning their lives around; we are not trying to provide free legal advice.

The strength of VIP mentoring comes from the emotional change that can occur in the relationship. The mentor, a respected member of the community, in effect, says to the parolee: "Yes, I know you just got out of prison. I know what you did. But here is a clean piece of paper. You now can put your past behind you and write your future on this blank sheet. I accept you, and I'll help you."

That simple act of acceptance is a powerful motivator. Mentees frequently tell us that their mentor is the first person in their lives who has ever truly believed in them.

Mentorship has a phenomenally positive effect on not only the lives of the mentees, but touches mentors as well. It is a very rewarding and moving experience to witness someone overcome his or her fears and succeed in achieving goals and aspirations to be present, as one mentor explained, when "miracles happen."

Volunteers In Parole is always seeking new mentors. If you would like to learn more about becoming a mentor, please contact VIP Program Director Angela Tillotson, at 916-324-4141, ext. 259, or by e-mail at vipsacramento@earthlink.net.