NCJ Number
225863
Journal
Journal of Correctional Education Volume: 59 Issue: 4 Dated: December 2008 Pages: 301-320
Date Published
December 2008
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study examined the correctional education experience from the perspective of the prisoner student.
Abstract
Findings indicate that the prisoner student is filled with regret over past educational experiences and life choices and this regret is a motivator for change, an impetus for attending class and improving themselves. The motivation to attend and persist in class also comes from internal (friends, family, self) and external (judges, parole boards, prison administrators) sources. This motivation may or may not result in persistence in a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) course. The field of correctional education may benefit from this study by examining the GED program and its use of inmate tutors. Providing a training course for correctional educators may enhance the quality or instruction of both certified teachers and inmate tutors. The field of elementary and secondary education may benefit society at large by reaching out to at-risk students before they have a chance to be incarcerated. Finally, the field of higher education may benefit from this study’s findings by developing ways to provide additional program offerings for the prisoner students. By introducing new courses and programs of study, the Federal and State governments would find a way to provide more funds for the field of correctional education. Data were collected from 10 prisoner students and 2 prison administrators; collection consisted of an open-ended questionnaire designed to gather the perceptions of prisoner students, as well as fully understand the correctional education process. Figure and references