NCJ Number
49533
Date Published
1976
Length
52 pages
Annotation
THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY WAS TO EVALUATE OFFENDER ATTITUDES TOWARD THE QUALITY OF BASIC EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMS IN EIGHT STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Abstract
IN AN EFFORT TO BETTER ACHIEVE THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM OBJECTIVES OF DEVELOPING SPECIFIC SALABLE SKILLS AND SKILLS LEADING TO THE COMPLETION OF A GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, 321 MALE AND 23 FEMALE OFFENDERS ENROLLED IN ADULT BASIC EDUCATION, GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT, AND VOCATIONAL COURSES IN INSTITUTIONS AT CAMP HILL, DALLAS, GRATERFORD, GREENSBURG, HUNTINGTON, MUNCY, PITTSBURGH, AND ROCKVIEW WERE INTERVIEWED TO DETERMINE THEIR ATTITUDES ABOUT THE QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES OFFERED. AFTER ANALYZING DATA COLLECTED FROM TWO FORMS -- THE EDUCATIONAL EVALUATION FORM AND THE TRAINING SURVEY -- COMPLETED BY THE OFFENDERS, IT WAS GENERALLY CONCLUDED THAT THE LACK OF RESOURCE MATERIALS AND SOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES (I.E., LIMITED LIBRARY MATERIALS AND COUNSELING SERVICES) IS A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, OFFENDERS HAVE POSITIVE VALUES AND ATTITUDES TOWARD THE EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN TERMS OF ENTERING, OPPORTUNITY, BENEFITS, AND SELF-RELIANCE. IT IS NOTED THAT AT LEAST HALF OF THE OFFENDERS' CAREER PLANS ARE HIGHLY RELATED TO THEIR INSTITUTION JOB; THAT THE MAJOR CAREER CHOICES ARE VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS BRICKLAYING, AUTO REPAIR, CARPENTRY, GENERAL CONSTRUCTION, AND PLUMBING; AND THAT MOST OFFENDERS HAVE POSITIVE PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR INSTUCTORS IN TERMS OF TRAINING, PERSONALITY, TEACHING METHODS, COURSE ORGANIZATION, ATTITUDES, HELPFULNESS, AND CLARITY OF GOALS. ALSO, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT EACH INSTITUTION OFFER PREEMPLOYMENT COURSES, DEVELOP A JOB-PLACEMENT CENTER, INTENSIFY CAREER AND EDUCATIONAL GUIDANCE, AND ATTEMPT TO INCREASE ENROLLMENTS AND IMPROVE CLASS ATTENDANCE. TABULAR DATA SUPPLEMENT THE DISCUSSION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF EACH INSTITUTION'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR'S ABSTRACT MODIFIED--KBL)