NCJ Number
52659
Date Published
1977
Length
345 pages
Annotation
THE IMPLEMENTATION, OPERATION, INSTITUTIONALIZATION, AND FUNDING OF THE MODEL EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THE BERKSHIRE COUNTY JAIL AND HOUSE OF CORRECTIONS IN PITTSFIELD, MASS., ARE DESCRIBED AND THE PROGRAM IS EVALUATED.
Abstract
THE MODEL EDUCATION PROGRAM, A COMPREHENSIVE, EDUCATIONALLY ORIENTED, COMMUNITY-BASED REINTEGRATION PROGRAM HAD FOUR PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: (1) THE CREATION OF AN ENVIRONMENT FOR SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY FOR INMATES; (2) THE 'OPENING' OF THE JAIL TO THE OUTSIDE COMMUNITY FOR SCRUTINY AND PARTICIPATION, AS WELL AS ALLOWING INMATES TO GO INTO THE COMMUNITY; (3) THE PARTICIPATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AS AN OUTSIDE CHANGE AGENT TO AFFECT INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE AT THE BERKSHIRE JAIL; AND (4) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MODEL FOR CORRECTIONAL REFORM THAT MIGHT BE APPLICABLE TO OTHER COUNTY JAILS. THE MODEL EDUCATION PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED AT THE BERKSHIRE JAIL FROM 1973 TO 1976 AND INVOLVED INMATES IN HUMAN RELATIONS TRAINING, THE FORMATION OF A GOVERNANCE BOARD, CAREER TRAINING, SELF-HELP DRUG GROUPS, AND VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE EVALUATION WAS PERFORMED FROM OCTOBER 1976 TO NOVEMBER 1977. DATA FOR THE EVALUATION WERE GATHERED FROM THREE MAJOR SOURCES: (1) QUESTIONNAIRES AND INTERVIEWS ADMINISTERED TO 80 INCARCERATED INMATES AND TO 96 CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND STAFF MEMBERS; (2) PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION BY A GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATE WHO SPENT 52 DAYS LIVING INSIDE THE CELL BLOCK; AND (3) A REVIEW OF PROGRAM MATERIALS AND COMPARATIVE DATA FROM OTHER SIMILAR COUNTY CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. THE EVALUATION STUDY OF THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE JAIL INVESTIGATED THE AREAS OF COMMUNICATION, DECISIONMAKING, AND SECURITY AND DISCIPLINE AND REVEALED A NEW OPENNESS AND REASON. THE STUDY ALSO INDICATED THAT 81 PERCENT OF THE INMATES PARTICIPATED IN SOME ASPECT OF THE PROGRAM, AND THAT THE ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY AND THE JAIL MADE FOR AN EFFECTIVE CHANGE-ORIENTED STRATEGY. CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, HOWEVER, FELT DISENFRANCHISED, UNCERTAIN OF THEIR NEW ROLE, AND THREATENED BY THE UNIVERSITY STAFF AND THE INMATES. FINALLY, IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THERE IS NOTHING TO PREVENT THE MODEL EDUCATION PROGRAM FROM BEING REPLICATED. RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BERKSHIRE JAIL AND TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CORRECTIONS ARE INCLUDED. REFERENCES AND DATA-COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS ARE APPENDED. (MLC)