NCJ Number
48637
Date Published
1969
Length
66 pages
Annotation
THE STATUS OF THE PRESENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF ARIZONA IS DESCRIBED, AND THE NEED AND POTENTIAL FOR ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS ARE EVALUATED.
Abstract
IN ADDITION TO EXAMINING THE STATUS OF THE GENERAL EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, INMATES' PERCEPTIONS OF THE PROGRAMS AND THEIR OWN EDUCATIONAL NEEDS ARE CONSIDERED. DATA FOR THE STUDY WERE OBTAINED FROM THE FOLLOWING SOURCES: INTERVIEWS WITH INMATES FROM THE TWO INSTITUTIONS STUDIED; PERSONAL RECORDS ON THE INMATE POPULATION; INTERVIEWS WITH EDUCATIONAL PERSONNEL AT THE TWO INSTITUTIONS; AND PERSONAL OBSERVATION OF THE RESEARCHER. FROM THE DATA OBTAINED, IT IS INDICATED THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR GENERAL EDUCATION UPGRADING FOR THE INMATES, SINCE ONLY ABOUT 50 PERCENT OF THE INMATE POPULATION CLAIMED TO HAVE ATTENDED SCHOOL BEYOND THE EIGHTH GRADE. ALTHOUGH THE GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS CURRENTLY PROVIDED ARE CONSIDERED OF HIGH QUALITY, THE EXTREMELY LOW PARTICIPATION RATES INDICATE THAT THE EDUCATIONAL PHASE OF THE REHABILITATION PROGRAM IS NOT REACHING MANY OF THE INMATES. SUGGESTIONS FOR MOTIVATIONAL GUIDANCE AIMED AT HELPING THE INMATES APPRECIATE THE PRACTICAL VALUE OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE GIVEN. PARTICIPATION IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IS BELIEVED TO BE LOW BECAUSE OF INMATE PERCEPTIONS THAT JOB OPPORTUNITIES ON THE 'OUTSIDE' ARE FEW OR NONEXISTENT. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A PLANNED PLACEMENT PROGRAM, WHOSE SUCCESS WOULD SHOW INMATES THAT THEY CAN BE PLACED IN JOBS, IS URGED. SHOULD PARTICIPATION RATES IN GENERAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS BE INCREASED, IT IS NOTED THAT PRESENT STAFF AND FACILITIES WILL BE INADEQUATE TO DEAL WITH SUCH AN INCREASE. STEPS TO EXPAND STAFF AND FACILITIES ARE SUGGESTED. DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS ARE LISTED. DATA FROM THE STUDY, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)