NCJ Number
58597
Date Published
1977
Length
360 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM A FIRST YEAR EVALUATION OF A PROGRAM PROVIDING TRAINING IN THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF PRACTICAL LAW TO INMATES OF SIX INSTITUTIONS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
Abstract
THE 'STREET LAW' TAUGHT COVERED CRIMINAL AND CORRECTIONS LAW AND SEVERAL ASPECTS OF THE CIVIL LAW SUCH AS FAMILY HOUSING AND CONSUMER RIGHTS. THE COURSES, WHICH WERE TAUGHT BY SECOND AND THIRD YEAR LAW STUDENTS, LASTED 14 WEEKS, WITH SESSIONS TWICE WEEKLY. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES WERE TO (1) INCREASE THE PARTICIPATION OF CITIZENS IN CORRECTIONS, (2) AID IN THE REHABILITATION OF INMATES, (3) CONDUCT STREET LAW CLASSES AT A COST IN LINE WITH THE COSTS OF COMPARABLE EDUCATION COURSES FOR INMATES, AND (4) STIMULATE THE USE OF STREET LAW CLASSES FOR CITIZENS AND INMATES IN OTHER STATES. BEHAVIORAL AND ATTITUDINAL MEASURES WERE ADMINISTERED TO PARTICIPANTS. SINCE NONE OF THE INMATES COMPLETING THE COURSE HAD BEEN RELEASED AT THE TIME OF THE EVALUATION, INDICES OF REHABILITATION WERE LIMITED TO THOSE APPLICABLE TO CONFINEMENT. BOTH INSTRUCTORS AND CITIZEN PARTICIPANTS GAINED INCREASED SENSITIVITY TO THE NEEDS AND PROBLEMS OF INMATES. IN ASSESSING THE BEHAVIOR OF INMATE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AFTER COMPLETION OF THE COURSE, CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, OBSERVATIONS OF THE BEHAVIOR OF PARTICIPATING INMATES AND A CONTROL GROUP OF NONPARTICIPATING INMATES INDICATED THAT ENROLLED INMATES BECAME MORE NEGATIVE IN THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD THE LAW, LEGAL INSTITUTIONS, AND THEMSELVES; HOWEVER, THESE CHANGES DID NOT ATTAIN STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE. THE COURSES WAS FOUND TO BE LESS COSTLY PER STUDENT HOUR THAN A COLLEGE COURSE CONDUCTED BY FEDERAL CITY COLLEGE; CONVERSELY, THE COURSE IS CONSIDERABLY MORE EXPENSIVE PER STUDENT HOUR THAN A GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR INMATES OPERATED BY THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. EFFORTS TO REPLICATE THE PROGRAM IN OTHER STATES HAVE APPARENTLY BEEN EFFECTIVE. TABULAR DATA AND A GLOSSARY ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)