Preparation for Life After Incarceration

• NCJ Number: 90133
• Author(s): J G Alston
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 13 pages
• Sale Source: Eric Document Reproduction Service
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges, Washington, D.C., April 20-22, 1981.

Annotation

After presenting a rationale for educational programs within correctional institutions, this paper describes the comprehensive educational program offered since 1965 by Lee College, Texas, to eligible inmates within units of the Texas Department of Corrections (TDC).

Abstract

The paper first discusses the importance of education to felon rehabilitation in light of the benefits of an organized educational program and the strong correlation between educational deficiencies and recidivous criminal behavior. A description is then presented of the TDC program's curriculum which, while providing comprehensive occupational instruction, maintains an equal emphasis on humanities and social science courses designed to help inmates face ethical, social, and political issues. Following discussions of attendance policies, class scheduling, and class size, the paper details criteria for inmate eligibility and notes the lower rate of rule violations among inmate/students. The paper then outlines the support services available to students and evaluates the program in terms of: (1) enrollment and graduation statistics; (2) the low rate of recidivism among students who were subsequently paroled; and (3) the favorable attitudes of imates toward the program. The paper concludes with a discussion of program financial support as derived from tuition, state aid, and the loan of facilities by the TDC. (Resources in Education (ERIC) abstract)