What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas...

Here are a few helpful tips on keeping things confidential.

Confidentiality Mentor Trust Building Techniques

Volunteers should recognize that they were, in-part ,selected because they have the interpersonal skills to interact with persons from diverse backgrounds and one key goal is to foster some measure of trust.

Create a Safe Space: A mentoring relationship should offer a safe place where emotions are a part of the relationship. This relationship should be founded on truth and honesty; it must be a safe relationship.
Treat the Relationship as Voluntary: The mentor or life coach should not represent one’s self in a manner that suggests obligatory interaction. Some returning citizens need time to adjust to post-incarceration.
Do not Attempt to Control the Mentee: The mentor or life coach must understand that the returning citizens must already report to a parole or probation official. They are also required to submit to drug testing, and other factors mandated in their release.
Do not get involved with mentee personal matters or: (1) sign legal documents for or on behalf of the mentee; (2) give or lend money to the mentee; or (3) become romantically involved.
Be Genuine: The returned citizen may feel like the mentor or life coach doesn’t understand them and/or is nothing like them. DCPC recommends that mentors be their genuine selves as much as possible. Mentoring is not a popularity contest and the integrity of your interaction is needed to assist with transition outside prison walls.
Non-Judgmental: Mentors should be nonjudgmental and resist personal biases and unnecessary scrutiny. The last thing a former inmate need is to feel as though their actions are not up to par and/or even worse that information may be reported back to parole or probation officials.