NCJ Number
162908
Journal
Journal of Correctional Education Volume: 47 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1996) Pages: 4-12
Date Published
1996
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The effectiveness of the academic and vocational programs of the Virginia Department of Correctional Educational School at Natural Bridge Juvenile Correctional Center was assessed using data from 207 of the 248 students released during 1993.
Abstract
Information was collected from parole officers 6 months after each student's released. Results revealed that 33 percent of the youths were employed, 33 percent had enrolled in an educational program, and 76 percent had experienced no further court involvement. Earning a vocational certificate, GED, or both increased the student's chances of gaining employment. Students who had been identified as having disabilities and had received special education services were more likely to recidivate and less likely to find employment than were students not identified as having handicapping conditions. Drug abusers were less likely to be enrolled in school and more likely to be employed than others; drug abusers were also 2.5 times more likely to recidivate than others. Students with shorter lengths of stay were more likely to recidivate than those with longer lengths of stay. Results indicated that academic education and vocational education are highly efficient methods of reducing recidivism. Figures and 39 references (Author abstract modified)