NCJ Number
170479
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 59 Issue: 1 Dated: (February 1998) Pages: 38-40
Date Published
1998
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Even though public policies on crime and justice have led to longer and tougher sentences for offenders, correctional administrators still spend much of their time reacting to public opinion rather than attempting to modify it.
Abstract
Many correctional administrators believe they cannot manage their prisons effectively due to public opinion about proper prison management. For example, most correctional administrators acknowledge inmates who are enrolled and participate in college programs demonstrate fewer management problems. Correctional administrators also know these inmates have higher success rates once released from prison than those who do not attend college while incarcerated. Yet, due to strong public opposition to inmate access to college courses at taxpayer expense, Congress has passed a law disallowing inmate qualification for Pell grants. Correctional administrators should provide the media access to their facilities and should inform the public on how prisons operate, for example, that prisons are overcrowded with inmates who are not actively involved in rehabilitation programs. 2 photographs