COLLEGE BEHIND THE WALLS - FACTORS INFLUENCING A POST-SECONDARY INMATE EDUCATION PROGRAM

• NCJ Number: 49511
• Author(s): J P GALLEY; M H PARSONS
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: Eric Document Reproduction Service
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION 1976 NATIONAL CONVENTION, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, OCTOBER 28, 1976

Annotation

THE PRISON EDUCATION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED BY THE HAGERSTOWN JUNIOR COLLEGE AT THE MARYLAND CORRECTIONAL TRAINING CENTER IS EXAMINED.

Abstract

IN LATE 1969, COOPERATIVELY PREPARED GUIDELINES WERE ADOPTED BY THE COLLEGE AND THE CENTER FOR THE PRISON EDUCATION PROGRAM. AN INMATE SCREENING COMMITTEE ON WHICH THE COLLEGE AND THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY ARE REPRESENTED SCREENS AND SELECTS APPLICANTS TO THE PROGRAM. FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY A FEDERAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANT AND BY THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO SERVE A WIDE RANGE OF INDIVIDUAL INMATE DIFFERENCES. SEVERAL INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES INVOLVING VARIED LENGTHS OF CLASSROOM WORK, COURSE SIZES, AND INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY TECHNIQUES ARE UTILIZED. INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING AND TESTING ALLOW THE COLLEGE TO ADDRESS INDIVIDUAL STUDENT NEEDS AND GOALS. STUDENTS AGREE TO CONTRACT WITH THE PROGRAM TO EXHIBIT ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR, AND CONTINUATION IN THE PROGRAM IS DEPENDENT UPON SUCCESSFUL EXECUTION OF THE PROGRAM. A CAMPUS RELEASE PROGRAM HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED, WITH AN 84.5-PERCENT SUCCESS RATE. RECIDIVISM RATES ARE LOWER FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND, OVERALL, MANY INMATES HAVE ACQUIRED PREVIOUSLY LACKING BASIC SKILLS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DP)