NCJ Number
31415
Date Published
1974
Length
62 pages
Annotation
A DESCRIPTION AND ASSESSMENT OF THIS COLLEGE-OPERATED PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDED PARAPROFESSIONAL LEVEL TRAINING AS LIBRARY AND AUDIOVISUAL TECHNICIANS FOR INMATES, EXOFFENDERS, PAROLEES, AND REGULAR COLLEGE STUDENTS.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM RECRUITMENT, CURRICULA, STUDENT PARTICIPATION AND SUCCESS, PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION, STAFF, AND BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM ARE DISCUSSED. NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND BETWEEN THE CORRECTIONS-RELATED STUDENTS AND THE REGULAR COLLEGE STUDENTS. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE AUDIOVISUAL COURSES WERE VERY POPULAR WITH THE CORRECTIONS-RELATED GROUP, BUT THAT THE LIBRARY COURSES WERE PERCEIVED BY MOST OF THESE PARTICIPANTS AS IRRELEVANT TO THEIR INTERESTS. THE PROGRAM OBJECTIVE OF REDUCING THE 80 PERCENT RECIDIVISM RATE OF THE CORRECTIONS-RELATED STUDENTS WAS ACHIEVED, SINCE PRELIMINARY FIGURES INDICATED THAT ONLY 10 PERCENT OF THESE PARTICIPANTS RECIDIVATED. THE REPORT CONCLUDES THAT 1) IT IS ADVANTAGEOUS TO COMBINE LIBRARY AND AUDIOVISUAL TECHNOLOGY IN SUB-PROFESSIONAL TRAINING; 2) DUE TO THE LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES AND LOW PAY OF PARAPROFESSIONAL LIBRARY/AUDIOVISUAL POSITIONS, IT IS NOT PRODUCTIVE TO TRAIN CORRECTIONS-RELATED STUDENTS AS PARAPROFESSIONALS, ALTHOUGH TRAINING THEM AS PROFESSIONALS SHOWS PROMISE; AND 3) COLLEGE BASED REHABILITATION PROGRAMS FOR CORRECTIONS-RELATED PARTICIPANTS ARE FEASIBLE. ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS REPORT IS THE TEXT OF AN OUTSIDE EVALUATION, SAMPLE CURRICULA FOR THIS PROGRAM, AND A PROPOSAL FOR CORRECTIONAL REHABILITATION THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)