WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO BE BETTER PREPARED TO ENTER JAILS/PRISONS. . . Volunteering in America's prisons helps pave the way for positive interaction between the correctional facility and the community, offering benefits for both inmates and volunteers. But civic-minded citizens may find volunteering in jails and prisons to be an intimidating and humbling experience without the proper knowledge. Prison volunteers provide an invaluable service in a variety of meaningful roles and are an essential component in correctional settings. Some departments require up to six months of training for correctional volunteer services; Helping Hands: A Practical Guide for Jail/Prison Volunteers builds upon this training, providing information that volunteers may or may not receive from their particular department. If you're considering extending a helping hand, this book is the place to start