NCJ Number
89915
Date Published
1982
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This paper presents recommendations for inmate adult basic education (ABE) as developed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons Task Force on Education, Training, and Personnel Selection.
Abstract
When the task force first met in August 1981, the Bureau of Prisons was operating in accordance with an optional program policy. Under this policy, inmates were assigned to participate in programs designed to meet identified needs. Participation was required for a period not to exceed 90 days. After that time, the inmate could opt out of any program with no penalties. Some prisons were applying this policy to only one 'needed' program, while inmates were free not to enroll in other programs. The task force recommended that (1) 90-day mandatory ABE enrollment be applied to all inmates, including prison industry employees who function at less than the 6th grade level; (2) a 30-day review be conducted for all inmates enrolled in an ABE program to identify problem areas and provide counseling or other indicated interventions; (3) completion of ABE be required before inmates may be considered for jobs above the lowest labor grade; and (4) the use of positive incentives to motivate students toward ABE completion. Additional recommendations of the task force dealt with improving the delivery of ABE programs by using the latest technology and multimedia programs available. The aforementioned recommendations were adopted by the Bureau of Prisons executive staff at its December 1981 meeting. Other task force recommendations approved for future implementation are a pilot project to test the effectiveness of using days off as an incentive for work or program performance and a pilot project in which educational achievement beyond ABE will be required for job advancement. Four bibliographic entries are provided.