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Offender Satisfaction and Program Change: Offenders Speak, Administrators Listen

NCJ Number
229865
Journal
Correctins Compendium Volume: 34 Issue: 4 Dated: Winter 2009 Pages: 1,2,4-8,14
Author(s)
Beth A. Wiersma; Julie Campbell; Kurt D. Siedschlaw
Date Published
2009
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article presents the results of an offender satisfaction survey on Nebraska's Work Ethic Camp (WEC) program.
Abstract
All five questions rated 1 to 5 on a Likert scale by the offenders had a mean score above 3, meaning the offenders rated all five areas of the WEC programming as somewhat helpful or better. Education was rated the highest (4.11) and the aftercare program was rated the lowest (3.25). Job-skills training, substance abuse, education and treatment, and cognitive restructuring ranked second, third, and fourth, respectively. Since this data collection effort, numerous changes have been implemented at the WEC. The most significant was new leadership for the camp was implemented. This study presents the possibility that addressing legitimate concerns of offenders can impact offender outcomes. This study addressed the results of an offender satisfaction survey of the WEC program. The assessment of the WEC program involved a survey administered to offenders upon their release. The results of the survey were taken to alter and improve a number of aspects of the program. Offender satisfaction research can provide valuable insight into program quality and effectiveness. Tables and references