NCJ Number
159128
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 22 Issue: 3/4 Dated: (1995) Pages: 65-76
Date Published
1995
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study reports the perceptions of female prison inmates in Nebraska as to how they ranked the importance of educational, behavior modification, and vocational programs in the correctional setting.
Abstract
To determine inmate perceptions of the need for and the quality of programs in Nebraska's correctional system, a review of previously used instruments was conducted. A survey was developed for inmates to complete; of 110 female inmates at the Nebraska Center for Women in July 1994, 61 responded (55 percent). The survey was four pages in length and used a Likert scale to denote Very Important, Important, Okay, Poor, and Waste of Time. When asked to select the top four educational and behavior modification programs, along with traditional and nontraditional programs, the following programs/skills were ranked the highest: cognitive self-change/life skills (anger management), general education equivalency (GED), relapse prevention (substance abuse), correctional industries (data entry), and parenting. Inmates ranked traditional female vocational skills higher than nontraditional vocational skills. In the area of traditional skills, child care, health care, and basic computers were ranked the highest. In the area of nontraditional skills, data entry was ranked the highest. Female inmates felt that male inmates received superior educational and vocational programs. Budgetary implications of correctional programming are examined in terms of the importance of rehabilitation. 12 references and 3 tables