STUDY OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF READING PROGRAMS IN FEDERAL, STATE, AND CITY-COUNTY PENAL INSTITUTIONS

• NCJ Number: 53383
• Author(s): T K KILTY
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 45 pages
• Corporate Author: Western Michigan University
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: MONOGRAPH SERIES

Annotation

THIS STUDY INVESTIGATED CHARACTERISTICS OF READING PROGRAMS OFFERED TO INMATES OF PENAL OR CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS OPERATED AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND CITY-COUNTY LEVELS.

Abstract

THE FIRST PHASE OF THE STUDY COLLECTED INFORMATION FROM 27 INSTITUTIONS LISTED IN THE EDUCATION DIRECTORY SUPPLIED BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS. IN THE SECOND PHASE, QUESTIONNAIRES WERE SENT TO ALL INSTITUTIONS LISTED IN THE 1972 DIRECTORY OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND AGENCIES OF THE AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION AND TO LOCAL JAILS BASED ON STATISTICS FROM THE 1970 NATIONAL JAIL CENSUS OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THE TOTAL SAMPLE WAS 27 FEDERAL, 629 STATE, AND 4,110 CITY-COUNTY INSTITUTIONS. AFTER A SECOND QUESTIONNARIE WAS SENT TO ALL STATE INSTITUTIONS THAT DID NOT RESPOND TO THE INITIAL REQUEST, THE FINAL SAMPLE WAS 27 FEDERAL, 426 STATE, AND 675 CITY-COUNTY INSTITUTIONS. VIRTUALLY ALL INSTITUTIONS REPORTING A READING PROGRAM ALSO INDICATED CORRESPONDING INFORMATION ABOUT THE EDUCATION OF INMATES. NEITHER A READING PROGRAM NOR BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON INMATES EXISTED IN APPROXIMATLEY 5 PERCENT OF STATE INSTITUTIONS AND IN 70 PERCENT OF CITY-COUNTY INSTITUTIONS. THE MEDIAN PERCENT OF INMATES REPORTED TO HAVE FINISHED THE SIXTH GRADE OR LESS WAS ABOUT 30 PERCENT AT ALL GOVERNMENTAL LEVELS. FEDERAL AND STATE INSTITUTIONS RELIED MOST HEAVILY ON ACADEMIC RECORDS FOR JUDGMENTS ABOUT THE LAST GRADE ATTENDED. THERE WAS A STRONG CORRELATION BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF INSTITUTIONS REPORTING A READING PROGRAM AND INSTRUCTION AT GRADE LEVELS ONE TO THREE, FOUR TO SIX, AND SEVEN AND ABOVE. APPROXIMATELY 20 PERCENT OF FEDERAL READING TEACHERS, 40 PERCENT AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND 70 PERCENT AT THE CITY-COUNTY LEVEL DID NOT HAVE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IN THE TEACHING OF READING. THE PERCENT OF INSTITUTIONS USING NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, BOOKS FOR FREE READING, WORKBOOKS, AND MATERIALS WITH DIFFICULTY LEVELS WAS STRONGLY RELATED TO THE NUMBER OF INSTITUTIONS WITH A READING PROGRAM. THE NUMBER OF INMATES INVOLVED IN READING INSTRUCTION, COMPARED TO THE NUMBER ELIGIBLE, WAS APPROXIMATELY 40 PERCENT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, 55 PERCENT AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND 40 PERCENT AT THE CITY-COUNTY LEVEL. RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE READING INSTRUCTION FOR INMATES ARE OFFERED. TABULAR DATA AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. THE STUDY QUESTIONNAIRE IS APPENDED. (DEP)