NCJ Number
181567
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 43 Issue: 3 Dated: September 1999 Pages: 291-307
Date Published
September 1999
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This article examines family education programs for strengthening ties between prison inmates and their families, and suggests a conceptual framework that classifies programs according to three criteria: (1) the program purpose, (2) the program content, and (3) the level of action between the professional and the participant.
Abstract
Family education to help inmates resolve, maintain, and improve family ties is a potentially valuable but underused aspect of correctional programming. A framework is needed to evaluate the role of family education among prisoners to aid understanding of the potential benefits of family education among inmates. The proposed framework uses the model of parent education described by Doherty in 1995. The model describes affective and cognitive aspects of five levels that distinguish between educational and therapeutic approaches. Levels 1 and 5 are outside the realm of family life education. Level 2 involves information and advice through parenting classes and life skills training. Level 3 focuses on feelings and support through support programs. Level 4 involves a brief focused intervention. An example of a Level 3 program was a 10-week family class funded by the Utah Department of Education for inmates in a medium-security unit and had been involved in serious crimes. Instructors worked in teams and were graduate and undergraduate university students who took a class called teaching in the prison. About 8-12 inmates participated in each class. Interviews at the conclusion of the class and with a small group of former inmates 2 years later confirmed findings in the literature. Findings suggested a great need for much more family education earlier and longer during the incarceration period. In addition, programming should be carefully examined in terms of purpose, content, and levels of interaction. Tables and 28 references