NCJ Number
56277
Date Published
1976
Length
245 pages
Annotation
THE PROVISION OF 12 COLLEGE COURSES TO 225 VIRGINIA INMATES FROM JANUARY 1975 TO FEBRUARY 1976 IS DESCRIBED AND EVALUATED IN THIS DISSERTATION.
Abstract
THE EVALUATION IS BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH PERSONS INVOLVED IN ADMINISTERING PROJECT OUTREACH AT THE THREE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES INVOLVED, A SURVEY OF INMATES' IMPRESSIONS OF THE PROJECT, AND COMPARISONS BETWEEN STUDENTS AND NONSTUDENTS. DURING THE STUDY PERIOD, INMATES WERE OFFERED COURSES IN CRIMINAL LAW, JOURNALISM, LIFESTYLES AND PERSONAL ADJUSTMENT, MAN AND SOCIETY, NEWS REPORTING, AND POETRY, PLUS A GRADUATE COURSE IN THEOLOGY FOR ONE INMATE. THE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAW COURSES WERE THE MOST POPULAR. THE COST OF THE PROJECT WAS $18,533 TO CORRECTIONS (PERSONNEL, TRAVEL, MATERIALS) AND $14,328 TO THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA (TUITION) -APPROXIMATELY $145 PER INMATE PER COURSE. THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM FELT IT WAS SUCCESSFUL. INMATE EVALUATIONS COMPARED FAVORABLY WITH EVALUATIONS GIVEN PROJECT NEWGATE, A SUCCESSFUL HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAM. PERSONALITY TESTS REVEALED IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACCEPTANCE AMONG STUDENTS. STUDENTS ALSO EXPERIENCED A REDUCTION IN DISCIPLINARY PROBLEMS AND AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF LEISURE TIME SPENT STUDYING. THERE ARE PLANS TO CONTINUE OFFERING HIGHER EDUCATION COURSES AND TO EXPAND THE PROJECT TO ENCOMPASS OTHER CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND COLLEGES IN VIRGINIA. THE STUDY REPORT INCLUDES A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM AND OF EVALUATION METHODS, FINDINGS, IMPLICATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS; SUPPORTING DATA; COPIES OF STUDY INSTRUMENTS; A LITERATURE REVIEW; AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY. (LKM)