NCJ Number
95903
Date Published
1984
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This paper summarizes the activities and accomplishments of the first 2 years -- 1981 and 1982 -- of the U.S. Department of Education's (DE) Corrections Program and presents recommendations regarding its future.
Abstract
The Program's goals were to increase offender access to existing federally mandated education programs and resources, to serve as an advocate and catalyst for more and better inmate education programs, to help consolidate correctional resources within the DE, and to insure the program became permanent. In 1980 with funding from the National Institute of Corrections, the Correctional Program was established within the Office of Special Programs. Attempts to abolish the DE and Federal budget cutbacks during the next 2 years accounted for many of the problems involved in implementing and institutionalizing the Corrections Program. After several efforts, a reorganization, and shifts in the political climate, a Correctional Program plan was developed and an interdepartmental task force proposed, but neither received formal approval. Although the Program is neither located at a level of sufficient political clout nor has adequate staff, it still represents some progress. The Program did prepare a directory of key corrections, correctional educators, and education officials in State and Federal agencies; held a national meeting for correctional education administrators; and disseminated much information about Federal legislation, funding, and programs. Because staff cannot answer questions from any legislator or lobbying group without official clearance, the Program has been restricted to issuing legislative updates to the field. The Program has facilitated the donation of 4 million books to correctional institutions by linking publishers with corrections agencies.