NCJ Number
244492
Date Published
February 2011
Length
44 pages
Annotation
This report explores the case for community-based correctional education programs.
Abstract
Community-based correctional education programs involve offering education services to individuals serving all or part of their criminal sentence under community supervision, i.e., either parole or probation. As more States try to cut their correctional costs through the use of community supervision, a lack of strategies aimed at helping offenders successfully complete their community supervision has not reduced recidivism rates and therefore has not lowered incarceration rates or reduced corrections costs. This report provides an overview of initiatives that have been implemented at both the national and State levels that are working to support new approaches to community supervision and to provide information about education programs for offenders serving all or part of their criminal sentence under community supervision. The report describes the following: the characteristics of community-based correctional education programs, including their organization, structure, target population, and curriculum; the challenges of community-based correctional education; and the implications of these programs for Federal and State policy. The information in the report was obtained from interviews with administrators and representatives from 15 community-based correctional education programs in 10 States: Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York., and Texas. References