NCJ Number
49057
Journal
WORKLIFE Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (MARCH 1976) Pages: 30-34
Date Published
1976
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A RESIDENTIAL JOB SKILL TRAINING PROGRAM THAT EMPHASIZES SOCIALIZATION AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF VOCATIONAL SKILLS IN INMATES FROM TWO PRISONS IN MINNESOTA IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM TEACHES INMATES TRANSPORTATION-RELATED JOB SKILLS (TRUCK DRIVING, TRUCK BODY BUILDING AND REPAIR, TRUCK MECHANICS, ETC.) AT A FACILITY LOCATED NEAR A FORMER FORESTRY CAMP, WHERE THE INMATE PARTICIPANTS RESIDE. EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON ALLOWING INMATES TO GOVERN THEMSELVES. THERE ARE NO GUARDS AND NO CELLS. PARTICIPANTS WORK, STUDY, AND EAT TOGETHER, LIVE IN THE SAME QUARTERS, AND HELP EACH OTHER WITH PROBLEMS. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM, AN INMATE MUST HAVE LESS THAN 1 YEAR TO SERVE ON HIS SENTENCE. ENROLLMENT IS RESTRICTED TO 50 PERSONS. STUDENTS RECEIVE 9.5 HOURS OF TRAINING EACH DAY AND ARE ENROLLED FROM 3.5 TO 11 MONTHS. TEACHING IS BASED ON INDIVIDUAL ABILITIES AND NEEDS. WHEN A PARTICIPANT HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED TRAINING, HE IS RELEASED. OTHER FEATURES OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDE COURSES IN DAILY LIVING SKILLS (E.G., BUDGETING, COOKING), AN ADVISORY BOARD OF INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES, TWO FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT COORDINATORS, AND STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN PROGRAM OPERATION. SINCE ITS INITIATION IN AUGUST 1972, THE PROGRAM HAS HAD 237 GRADUATES, 177 FROM STATE INSTITUTIONS AND 60 FROM A FEDERAL PRISON. OF THE STATE GRADUATES, 97 PERCENT WERE PLACED IN JOBS, 91 PERCENT REMAINED OUT OF PRISON AFTER 1 YEAR, AND 82 PERCENT REMAINED OUT AFTER 3 YEARS. PROGRAM COSTS ARE ABOUT $1,560 PER STUDENT FOR AN AVERAGE 6-MONTH PERIOD. PHOTOGRAPHS ILLUSTRATE THE ARTICLE. (LKM)