NCJ Number
13163
Date Published
1973
Length
189 pages
Annotation
EXPERIMENTAL HUMANITIES COURSE GIVEN TO INMATES AGED 15 TO 21 AT THE CAMP HILL, PENNSYLVANIA, CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION, AND AN ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTS.
Abstract
THE HUMANITIES ARE THE BRANCHES OF LEARNING COMMONLY REGARDED AS HAVING PRIMARILY A CULTURAL CHARACTER. THE PROGRAM AIMED AT INTRODUCING MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES THAT WOULD LEAD ITS YOUNG STUDENTS TO EXAMINE THEIR LIVES AND HELP THEM FIND A SENSE OF PERSONAL IDENTITY AND A SET OF VALUES CONSISTENT WITH LIFE IN SOCIETY. THE PROGRAM FELL FAR SHORT OF THESE GOALS. THE BASIC FINDINGS OF THE PROJECT CAN BE SUMMARIZED IN FOUR STATEMENTS - THE HUMANITIES PROGRAM WAS WELL RECEIVED BY A MAJORITY OF ITS STUDENTS. THE PRISON ENVIRONMENT HAD A POWERFUL INFLUENCE ON THE CONTENT OF THE PROGRAM AND THE METHODS USED IN IT. THERE WERE SOME INDICATIONS THAT THE PROGRAM HAD SOME EFFECT ON ITS STUDENTS WHILE THEY WERE STILL IN THE INSTITUTION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE PROGRAM HAD ANY EFFECTS THAT PERSISTED AFTER THE INMATES WERE RELEASED. FURTHERMORE, RACISM CONSTITUTED A PROBLEM IN THE RACIALLY MIXED CLASSES. THE STUDY CONTAINS DISCUSSIONS BY THE AUTHORS AND OTHER WRITERS ON CAUSES OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IN YOUNG PEOPLE, BARRIERS TO REHABILITATION, AND THE EFFECTS OF PRISON EDUCATION. PARTLY AS A RESULT OF THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH THE HUMANITITES COURSE, THE AUTHORS SUBSCRIBE, IN GENERAL, TO THE PROPOSITION THAT THE PRISON IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE SETTING FOR REHABILITATION BECAUSE THE TOTAL SETTING IS ANTITHETICAL TO THE TREATMENT EFFORTS. APPENDIX A GIVES THE RESULTS OF A QUESTIONNAIRE ON ACCEPTANCE OF THE PROGRAM WHICH WAS GIVEN TO THE STUDENTS. APPENDIXES B THROUGH F TABULATE THE RESULTS OF VARIOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS WHICH WERE INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS ALSO PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)