NCJ Number
149376
Journal
Journal of Correctional Education Volume: 45 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1994) Pages: 38-47
Date Published
1994
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article presents the results of a study of the offender records of women incarcerated by the State of New Hampshire during 1982-92, undertaken to determine the parameters for academic and vocational programs to be offered at the women's facility.
Abstract
This study was occasioned by a court order to provide a facility and programs on parity with those provided at the State men's facility. The study profiled the State-sentenced female offender, determined the academic level of the female offender, collected data on the number of months female inmates are incarcerated, ascertained the recidivism rate, and examined changes in sentence length over time. The study highlights the serious academic and employment-skill deficiencies of the female offender and serves as the basis for providing fast-paced, intensive, remedial adult education and vocational programs during incarceration. Given the trend toward shorter sentences, an inmate whose Test of Adult Basic Education and employment history shows that training is warranted must be encouraged to enroll in education programs immediately upon reassignment from quarantine. An individualized open-entry/open-exit program would permit transition into classes at mid-semester. Computer-based adult and vocational education programs can provide personalized pretest/posttest program placement and self-paced instruction to address the academic diversity of students. A computerized occupational preference assessment program that measures interests, values, and abilities combined with hands-on, practical application would accelerate the development of a vocational identity. 7 figures, tables, and 5 references