NCJ Number
52331
Journal
TEXAS JOURNAL OF CORRECTIONS Volume: 4 Issue: 15 Dated: (NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1978) Pages: 6-11
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTS IN BEXAR COUNTY (TEXAS) DETENTION CENTER IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE BEXAR COUNTY DETENTION CENTER HOUSES FROM 900 TO 1,100 CITY, COUNTY, AND FEDERAL PRISONERS ON AN AVERAGE DAY AND IS THE ONLY PENAL FACILITY WITHIN BEXAR COUNTY. IT SERVES AS A DRUNK TANK, HOLDING CENTER FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS, AND A STAGING FACILITY FOR THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS; THUS, A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF OFFENDERS IS FOUND WITHIN THE FACILITY. THE AVERAGE STAY OF AN INMATE IS APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS. THE RESULTS FROM A QUESTIONNAIRE ADMINISTERED TO THE INMATES REVEALED THAT THE MEAN NUMBER OF SCHOOL YEARS FINISHED WAS 10.4. GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE POPULATION, THEIR INABILITY TO OBTAIN EDUCATION IN A CONVENTIONAL MANNER, AND THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED IN SCHEDULING, A UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM WITH BEHAVIOR CHANGE AS ITS MAJOR OBJECTIVE WAS DEVISED. THE PROGRAM DEVELOPED THE FOLLOWING THRUSTS: THE DELIVERY OF BASIC INFORMATION FOR SURVIVAL AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN LITERACY AREAS, RECREATION, AND READINESS FOR THE WORLD OUTSIDE THE JAIL. THROUGH THE USE OF THE PLATO COMPUTER-ASSISTED EDUCATION PROGRAM, ALL INMATES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THEIR ABILITIES IN READING, MATHEMATICS, AND LANGUAGE ARTS. LESSONS ARE PROVIDED AT READING LEVELS RANGING FROM THIRD THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE. CLASSES IN ENGLISH, MATHEMATICS, LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND SOCIAL STUDIES PREPARE INMATES FOR THE GENERAL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA EXAM. BECAUSE THE DETENTION CEMTER IS ONE OF FOUR MODEL SITES SELECTED BY THE AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR A COORDINATED COMMUNITY OFFENDER EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, INMATES ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM ARE GIVEN CLASSES IN WORK SKILL DEVELOPMENT, JOB PREPARATION, AND VALUES CLARIFICATION. CLASSES IN ART, CREATIVE WRITING, AND MEDIA ARE TAUGHT CONCURRENTLY WITH THE STANDARD ACADEMIC SUBJECTS. A PROGRAM FOR UPGRADING THE JOB SKILLS OF DETENTION CENTER EMPLOYEES TO HELP IN THE INMATE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IS ALSO DESCRIBED. DATA COLLECTED FROM THE INMATE SURVEY ON EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)