PERCEPTIONS OF CORRECTIONS EDUCATIONS, INMATES, PAROLEES, PAROLE OFFICERS - A BASIS FOR COMPETENCY BASED EDUCATION

• NCJ Number: 67768
• Author(s): E RODNEY
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 67 pages
• Corporate Author: Ohio Dept of Rehabilitation and Correction
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: RESEARCH PROJECT

Annotation

INMATES, CORRECTIONAL TEACHERS, PAROLEES, AND PAROLE OFFICERS WERE SURVEYED TO DETERMINE THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF A CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.

Abstract

THE SAMPLE INCLUDED 337 INMATES AND 39 CORRECTIONS EDUCATORS FROM A MAXIMUM, A MEDIUM, AND A MINIMUM SECURITY CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AND A REFORMATORY, AND 16 PAROLE OFFICERS AND 97 PAROLEES IN OHIO. THE DATA WERE COLLECTED IN SMALL GROUP INTERVIEWS THROUGH A SURVEY INSTRUMENT CONTAINING 72 CURRICULUM ITEMS WITH FOUR POSSIBLE RESPONSES EACH: A MUST, VERY IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT, AND NOT IMPORTANT. A ONE WAY ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE WAS PERFORMED ON THE DATA TO DETERMINE THE AGREEMENT ON NEEDED SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES; THE DIFFERENCES IN PERCEPTIONS ACCORDING TO EDUCATIONAL LEVEL AND AGE; THE RANKING OF THE VARIABLES BY SUBGROUPS AND THE COMPOSITE GROUP; AND WHETHER OR NOT ALL PAROLEES AND INMATES SHOULD ATTEND SCHOOL. THE RESULTS SHOW THAT ALL FOUR GROUPS AGREED ON THE UTILITY OF 12 SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES (IN ORDER OF AGREEMENT LEVELS): KNOWLEDGE OF (1) THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRIVATE AND GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES; (2) HOW TO DESCRIBE TO ANOTHER PERSON PREVIOUS JOBS HELD; (3) SOURCES THAT WILL LEAD TO EMPLOYMENT; (4) SIMPLE WORDS USED IN GOVERNMENT AND LAW; (5) THE USE OF THE TELEPHONE; (6) HOW TO GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE; (7) LEGAL PAPERS THAT GO WITH OWNING A CAR; (8) HOW TO TAKE PART IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES; (9) THE MEANING AND RESPONSIBITY OF SEXUALITY; (10) HOW PREGNANCY AFFECTS FAMILIES; (11) BIRTH CONTROL AND FAMILY PLANNING; AND (12) GOOD AND BAD PRACTICES OF THE BUSINESS WORLD. THE RESPONSES OF THE PAROLE OFFICERS DIFFERED MOST FROM THOSE OF THE OTHER THREE GROUPS, AND THIS MAY INDICATE THAT THIS GROUP'S GOALS AND ROLE DEFINITIONS ARE IN NEED OF CHANGE. FURTHERMORE, AGE AND EDUCATIONAL LEVEL APPEARED TO HAVE LITTLE EFFECT ON THE FINDINGS, AND MOST AGREED THAT NOT ALL INMATES AND PAROLEES SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND SCHOOL. FINALLY, A COLLEGE EDUCATION WAS SEEN AS MOST IMPORTANT BY ALL GROUPS, WHILE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION CARRIED A LOW PRIORITY. THE CURRICULUM ITEMS ARE LISTED AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED; REFERENCES AND FOOTNOTES ARE NOT PROVIDED.