NCJ Number
205157
Journal
Journal of Correctional Education Volume: 55 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2004 Pages: 40-59
Editor(s)
John Dowdell,
Russell Craig
Date Published
March 2004
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study assessed a group of inmates’ attitudes of their correctional educational courses and environment.
Abstract
Education has been attributed as one of the factors that helps reduce the recidivism rate among the Nation’s inmate population. Increased funding for correctional education has occurred because research has shown that although literacy does not guarantee a better life outside prison walls, illiteracy guarantees a higher recidivism rate. So, the continued improvement of the educational system within correctional facilities is of great importance. Based on research conducted in 1994, the idea of empowerment evaluation, this study explored a group of inmates’ perceptions of their correctional education and environment. Participants in the study entailed a sample of the inmate student population from a high minimum security correctional center in Illinois and included both GED students and adult-based education (ABE) students. The intent was to find key areas for improvement in the correctional education system from the inmates’ perspectives. A self-administered questionnaire was given to the participants, which produced quantitative and qualitative data. Overall, the results indicated that students were satisfied as they placed importance on the current educational system, but they had suggestions for improvement. A strong message was sent by the students that they prefer reading and math as the focus of education in the classroom. A strong appeal was made to keep the current classroom resources such as textbooks, dictionaries, worksheets, and teacher’s aides, and suggested an increase in the availability and use of computers in the classrooms. Since the teacher’s assistance was viewed by most students as a vital key to their success in learning, limiting the amount of time teachers are out of the classroom working on other non-academic duties would most likely prove beneficial to the academic success rate of the students. The intent of the study was to assist correctional administrators and educators in their efforts to improve the educational system in the Illinois Department of Corrections’ schools as well as help in the construction, planning, and scheduling of future correctional education facilities. References and appendix