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Survey of State Correctional Educational Systems: Analysis of Data From 1992 Field Test

NCJ Number
174001
Author(s)
R Kirshstein; C Best
Date Published
1996
Length
94 pages
Annotation
This report presents data from a 1992 survey of correctional education offered in State juvenile and adult facilities.
Abstract
Forty-three States responded to the 1992 Survey of State adult correctional education agencies. Table 1 presents the number and average percentage of various correctional education offerings for adult correctional facilities. Almost all facilities offer adult basic education and GED preparation courses. a In each State an average of 69 percent of correctional institutions offered some type of vocational education, and 60 percent offered postsecondary education. An average of only 39 percent offered special education, and an average of 79 percent offered life and social skills training. A second table presents the average percentage of inmates who were served by correctional education in 1990-91. Most inmates were enrolled in adult basic education or GED instruction. Table 3 displays the administrative structure for adult correctional education systems. The most common method of administration was through the State Department of Corrections (43 percent). Table 4 presents the number and average percentage of correctional education programs offered within juvenile correctional facilities. Almost all juvenile facilities offered elementary and secondary academic instruction, GED preparation, special education, and life and social skills training. Vocational education was offered at an average of 86 percent of juvenile institutions within a particular State. Table 5 presents the percentage of inmates served in juvenile institutions. Almost all juveniles (93 percent) were served by elementary and secondary academic programs. Table 6, which describes the administration of juvenile correctional education programs, shows that the administration of juvenile correctional education programs was varied. Appendixes provide profiles of correctional services in the adult and juvenile facilities of each responding State. 6 tables and 2 figures