OFFENDER EDUCATION IN THE AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

• NCJ Number: 52209
• Journal: QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF CORRECTION Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (SPECIAL ISSUE 1978) Pages: 7-13
• Author(s): E K DAVIS
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: State Technical Institute of Memphis
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS HISTORICAL OVERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS THE PROGRESS MADE IN PRISON EDUCATION AS A TECHNIQUE FOR REFORMING AND REHABILITATING OFFENDERS.

Abstract

THE DIRECTION OF CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION WAS DELINEATED IN THE 1935 NEW YORK CORRECTION LAW. THAT LAW IDENTIFIED THE OBJECTIVE OF PRISON EDUCATION IN ITS BROADEST SENSE AS THE SOCIALIZATION OF INMATES THROUGH VARIED IMPRESSIONAL AND EXPRESSIONAL ACTIVITIES, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON INDIVIDUAL INMATE NEEDS. THE CASE FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRISONERS RESTS ESSENTIALLY ON THE SAME CONSIDERATIONS THAT SUPPORT EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN THE FREE WORLD; NAMELY, EDUCATION AND TRAINING CONTRIBUTE TO PREPARATION FOR SELF-SUPPORTING AND SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE LIFESTYLES. PROGRESS MADE IN PRISON EDUCATION ENCOMPASSES EFFORTS OF THE QUAKERS TO INTRODUCE EDUCATION IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN THE PENAL SETTING PRIOR TO 1850, THE MOVE TOWARD REHABILITATION AFTER 1850, AND THE INITIATION OF THE MODERN ERA OF CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION IN 1929 WITH MACCORMICK'S COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY OF CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES. CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION IS DEFINED AS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND TREATMENT PROCESSES AVAILABLE TO ADULT AND JUVENILE OFFENDERS AFTER ADJUDICATION. THE TERM IS USED ALSO TO REFER TO THE INSTITUTION-BASED EDUCATION OF INMATES. AN INCREASING NUMBER OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION ARE INVOLVED IN PROVIDING PRISONER STUDENTS WITH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ALLOW THEM TO ESTABLISH NEW PERSONAL AND SOCIAL CONTACTS, TO EXAMINE ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLES, AND TO ACQUIRE EDUCATION AND TRAINING CREDENTIALS THAT WILL ENHANCE JOB OPPORTUNITIES. ADULT CAREER EDUATION HOLDS GREAT POTENTIAL FOR REDIRECTING AND CORRECTING OFFENDERS. THE FOLLOWING NEW DELIVERY SYSTEMS MAY REPLACE TRADITIONAL APPROACHES TO EDUCATION, SOMETIMES AT NO GREATER COST: EDUCATIONAL VOUCHER SYSTEMS, THE PRISON AS A SPECIALIZED LEARNING CENTER, EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CENTERS IN PRISONS, CORRECTIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, EDUCATIONAL DIAGNOSTIC AND REFERRAL CENTERS, AND THE USE OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND FACILITATORS TO DIVERT FIRST OFFENDERS FROM COMMITMENT TO A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)