NCJ Number
132765
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 14 Issue: 8 Dated: (November 1989) Pages: 9-16
Date Published
1989
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This survey shows that 33 correctional systems in the United States have educational release programs with more than 800 inmates participating.
Abstract
With 250, Ohio has the largest number on educational release, and Kentucky is second with 150. No other system has more than 80, and many have fewer than 6. Of States having inmates in educational release programs, two is the lowest number in South Dakota, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and New Mexico. In addition to the 33 States having educational release programs, Alaska, Idaho, Kansas, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons have either provisions or statutes for educational release but none in operation. Fifteen other correctional systems do not have educational release. To be eligible for the program, most systems require that a prisoner be within a set amount of time before parole or discharge from prison. Other factors include the proportion of sentence an inmate has served, offense type, institutional record, custody classification, criminal history including escape convictions, and any outstanding felony detainers. Also considered are prisoner ability to pay, acceptance by a school or college, and participation and success in a school program while institutionalized. In Canada, 10 of 13 correctional systems have educational release programs that involve 405 prisoners. A tabular summary of educational release programs by State for 1989 is provided.