CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR INMATES: NATIONAL EVALUATION PROGRAM - PHASE 1 REPORT

• NCJ Number: 48176
• Author(s): R BELL; E CONARD; T LAFFEY; J G LUTZ; P V MILLER; C SIMON; A E STAKELON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 131 pages
• Grant Number(s): 76-NI-99-0126
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Lehigh University
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: SERIES A, NUMBER 22 NATIONAL EVALUATION PROGRAM

Annotation

QUESTIONNAIRES AND SITE VISITS WERE USED TO EVALUATE 163 CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THE SURVEY COVERED FUNDING, ADMINISTRATION, RESOURCES, MATERIALS, PROGRAM DESIGN AND EVALUATION, AND RELATION TO WORK PROGRAMS.

Abstract

THE SURVEY, CONDUCTED IN 1977, COVERED A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS WITH MORE THAN 100 INMATES IN 48 STATES (ALASKA AND HAWAII WERE EXCLUDED). ON THE BASIS OF DATA COLLECTED, CONCLUSIONS ARE PRESENTED AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR EACH AREA STUDIED. A SPECIAL STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF THE NATURE OF THE INSTITUTION ON THE INMATE EDUCATION PROGRAM FOUND THAT IN SOME INSTITUTIONS THE CONFLICT BETWEEN CUSTODIAL AND TREATMENT FUNCTIONS IS SUFFICIENT TO NEGATIVELY INFLUENCE THE WORK OF THE CORRECTIONS EDUCATOR. THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION TO REHABILITATION MUST BE EMPHASIZED BY THE PRISON ADMINISTRATOR AND FULL COOPERATION SHOULD BE SECURED FROM ALL EMPLOYEES. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WORK AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED AND EXISTING CONFLICTS RESOLVED. ON THE WHOLE, THE GENERAL STATE OF EDUCATION IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS HAS IMPROVED. A MAJOR PROBLEM IS LACK OF FUNDING, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN THE QUALITY OF ADMINISTRATION, LACK OF RESOURCES, AND INABILITY TO OFFER MEANINGFUL PROGRAMS ON A CONTINUING BASIS. SINCE FUNDING IS OFTEN FROM FEDERAL SOURCES OR VARIOUS 'SOFT' SOURCES, CONTINUITY OF OPERATION IS A PROBLEM. THE PRESSURE OF CONSTANTLY REAPPLYING FOR GRANT MONEY DIVERTS TIME AND RESOURCES FROM THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE INMATE EDUCATION PROGRAMS. A SERIES OF 20 PROBLEMS IS IDENTIFIED; RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OFFERED FOR EACH. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE AVERAGE PRISONER SPENDS 3 YEARS IN A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AND THAT PROGRAMS SHOULD USE THESE YEARS EFFECTIVELY TO GIVE THE INMATE THE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR SURVIVAL IN SOCIETY. AT PRESENT, 40 PERCENT OF THE INMATES ATTEND SOME FORM OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, AND THE SURVEYED INSTITUTIONS SPEND 8.7 PERCENT OF THEIR BUDGET ON EDUCATION. EVALUATION OF PROGRAM RESULTS IS LIMITED. THIS AREA NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED. SURVEY DATA ARE PRESENTED IN CHART, GRAPH, AND TABULAR FORM. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 163 INSTITUTIONS AND METHODOLOGY ARE DETAILED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND A CHART SHOWING INMATE FLOW THROUGH A GENERALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM ARE APPENDED. SURVEY QUESTIONS ARE NOT INCLUDED.