NCJ Number
52211
Journal
QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF CORRECTIONS Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (SPECIAL ISSUE 1978) Pages: 21-28
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THIS DISCUSSION OF TRADITIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE CORRECTIONAL SETTING PROVIDES THE BACKGROUND FOR A SPECIFIC PLAN TO ALTER THE ROLE OF SUCH PROGRAMS.
Abstract
THE DEVELOPMENT OF GOOD WORK HABITS AND JOB SKILLS AMONG INMATES IN ANTICIPATION OF RELEASE HAS BEEN A GOAL OF THE PENAL SYSTEM. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN PRISONS IS ONLY ONE ASPECT OF THE BROADER REALM OF ATTEMPTED PRISON REFORM. NUMEROUS FACTORS INFLUENCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN PRISONS. ONE CONSIDERATION IS THAT MOST INMATES HAVE PAINFUL MEMORIES OF EARLIER FAILURES IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS. ANOTHER FACTOR IS THE REALIZATION THAT VOCATIONAL EDUCATION HAS NOT RECEIVED ENOUGH NECESSARY FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION REFLECTS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION FOR WORK OR A CAREER AND EDUCATION FOR ACTUALIZING OTHER LIFE ROLES RELATED TO SOCIETAL NEEDS. A VOCATIONAL EDUCATION MODEL FOR CORRECTIONS IS PROPOSED THAT IS CHARACTERIZED BY A SERIES OF COMPONENTS ON WHICH TO BASE HABILITATIVE EFFORTS FOR INMATES WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN AND A NEED FOR VOCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. ATTRIBUTES OF THE MODEL INCLUDE A VOCATIONAL EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT IS COMPREHENSIVE AND WHOSE PARTS ARE RELATED, THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF SYSTEM OBJECTIVES, SYSTEM GOALS DETAILED AND SUPPORTED BY OBJECTIVES SPECIFIED IN MEASURABLE TERMS, SYSTEMATIC SHORTRANGE AND LONGRANGE PLANNING, RESEARCH ON AND EVALUATION OF SYSTEM PERFORMANCE ON A CONTINUING BASIS, AND CENTRALIZED PLANNING WITH DECENTRALIZED MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION. THE MODEL ENCOMPASSES POPULATION NEEDS ANALYSIS, JOB MARKET AND JOB PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS, VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROMOTION, INMATE CLASSIFICATION AND ASSIGNMENT, STUDENT RECRUITMENT, GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING, A REWARD SYSTEM, CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, VOCATIONAL INSTRUCTION, AND JOB PLACEMENT. STANDARDS FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN THE CORRECTIONAL SETTING ARE DISCUSSED, A SCHEMA OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CURRICULUM CONTENT AND COMPETENCIES AND CHARACTER EVALUATION IS PRESENTED, AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)