NCJ Number
65292
Date Published
1979
Length
113 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM A SURVEY TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT, SCOPE, AND QUALITY OF CAREER EDUCATION IN ADULT CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, AND A PROGRAM MODEL FOR TEXAS IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
INITIATED FOR THE BENEFIT OF TEXAS CORRECTIONS, THE SURVEY, WHICH ELICITED REPLIES FROM 48 STATES, SHOWS THAT VERY LITTLE CAREER EDUCATION IS BEING CONDUCTED FOR INMATES IN STATE PRISONS. THERE IS EVEN A MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE MEANING OF CAREER EDUCATION AMONG THE CORRECTIONS PERSONNEL WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH A PROGRAM. ADULT CAREER EDUCATION FOR INMATES IS A PLANNED PROGRAM FOR DEVELOPING OFFENDERS' KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ATTITUDES, AND VALUES REQUIRED TO FULFILL RESPONSIBLE CAREER ROLES, REGARDLESS OF THE NATURE OF THE OCCUPATION. SUCH A PROGRAM WOULD INCLUDE EDUCATION IN OCCUPATIONAL DECISIONMAKING, LEGAL EMPLOYABILITY, SOCIAL AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES, CONSTRUCTIVE USE OF LEISURE TIME, AND POSITIVE SELF-FULFILLMENT. THE PROGRAM MODEL RECOMMENDED INVOLVES THE INTRODUCTION OF SUCH LEARNING EXPERIENCES INTO REGULAR INMATE ACADEMIC COURSES. THIS WOULD REQUIRE A SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE SCHOOL STAFF THAT WOULD USE THE RESOURCES OF BUSINESS, INDUSTRY, AND LABOR. THE CURRICULUM SHOULD PROVIDE FOR THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL COMPONENTS OF EDUCATION. INMATES WOULD BE ASSISTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-AWARENESS AND SELF-DIRECTION THROUGH EMPHASIS ON READING, WRITING, AND ARITHMETIC. A COUNSELING COMPONENT WOULD BE INCLUDED TO ASSIST INMATES IN DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL PLANS THAT WOULD BE CONTINUALLY REVIEWED AND UPDATED. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PILOT PROGRAM ACCORDING TO THE MODEL SUGGESTED IS RECOMMENDED, ALONG WITH AN EVALUATION PLAN. SURVEY DATA AND MATERIALS ARE INCLUDED IN THE APPENDIXES, ALONG WITH MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE MODEL DELIVERY SYSTEM. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS ALSO PROVIDED. (RCB)