SEXUAL INTEGRATION AND PRISON EDUCATION - A STUDY OF THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN INMATES IN THE SINGLE SEX, PARTIALLY INTEGRATED, FULLY INTEGRATED, FEDERAL PRISONS, 1975-76

• NCJ Number: 53845
• Author(s): C SCHWEBER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 172 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

Annotation

THE METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS ARE REPORTED OF A STUDY EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DEGREE OF SEXUAL INTEGRATION IN A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AND PARTICIPATION BY WOMEN IN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.

Abstract

THE SAMPLE STUDIED CONSISTED OF 903 ADULT WOMEN INCARCERATED DURING 1975-76 AT THE FOLLOWING 4 FEDERAL PRISONS: (1) ALDERSON, A SINGLE-SEX INSTITUTION; (2) TERMINAL ISLAND, WITH PARTIAL INTEGRATION OF THE SEXES; (3) FORT WORTH, WITH FULL SEXUAL INTEGRATION; AND (4) LEXINGTON, WITH FULL SEXUAL INTEGRATION. THE INSTITUTIONS WITH SEXUAL INTEGRATION ALLOWED THE PARTICIPATION OF ALL INMATES, REGARDLESS OF SEX, IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OFFERED. EDUCATION IN ALL THE INSTITUTIONS INCLUDES ACADEMIC AND OCCUPATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE RESEARCH FOCUSED ON TWO MAJOR QUESTIONS: (1) WOULD INCREASES IN THE DEGREE OF SEXUAL INTEGRATION IN INSTITUTIONS BE ACCOMPANIED BY INCREASED RATES OF EDUCATIONAL UTILIZATION BY WOMEN? AND (2) WOULD INCREASES IN THE DEGREE OF SEXUAL INTEGRATION IN THE INSTITUTIONS BE ACCOMPANIED BY INCREASED EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS FOR WOMEN? EDUCATIONAL BUDGET, EDUCATIONAL STAFF, INMATES' EDUCATIONAL PREPARATION, COST OF EDUCATION, STAFF ATTITUDES TOWARD WOMEN INMATES, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION WERE THE PRINCIPAL FACTORS EXAMINED. ADDITIONALLY, THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH PRISON EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OPERATED IS DESCRIBED IN A SERIES OF INSTITUTIONAL PROFILES. FINDINGS UPHELD THE EXPECTATION THAT THE MORE INTEGRATED THE PRISON, THE MORE NUMEROUS AND VARIED WERE THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AVAILABLE FOR WOMEN. RESULTS DID NOT SUPPORT THE EXPECTATION THAT THE MORE INTEGRATED PRISONS WOULD ALSO HAVE HIGHER FEMALE ENROLLMENTS IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OFFERED. THREE INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS WERE FOUND TO INFLUENCE THE WOMEN'S USE OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN A GIVEN INSTITUTION: THE EDUCATIONAL MILIEU; THE RECOGNITION OF WOMEN INMATES AS UNIQUE CLIENTS; AND THE PROPORTION OF WOMEN INMATES IN AN INTEGRATED SETTING. REGARDLESS OF THE EXISTENCE OF SEXUAL INTEGRATION IN A PRISON, INCREASED EDUCATIONAL INVOLVEMENT BY WOMEN INMATES REQUIRES INSTITUTIONAL ACTION TO COMBAT THE PRESSURES OF A MALE-DOMINATED PRISON ENVIRONMENT AND A MALE-ORIENTED SOCIETY WHICH ENCOURAGES DIFFERENT TYPES OF WORK FOR MEN AND WOMEN. THE APPENDIXES PROVIDE DATA DERIVED FROM THE STUDY AND SAMPLES OF FORMS USED IN OBTAINING DATA. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (RCB)