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LETTERS FROM JESSUP - NOTES ON A PRISON COLLEGE PROGRAM

NCJ Number
46725
Author(s)
R J WATSON
Date Published
1975
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ESSEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE (ECC) PROGRAM FOR INMATES OF THE HOUSE OF CORRECTIONS IN JESSUP, MARYLAND, IS OUTLINED, AND ITS REHABILITATIVE POTENTIAL IS EVALUATED.
Abstract
THE ECC PROGRAM GREW OUT OF THE CONCERN OF TWO VOLUNTEERS THAT ADEQUATE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WERE NOT BEING PROVIDED FOR INMATES IN MAXIMUM SECURITY FACILITIES. AIDING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROGRAM WERE A SYMPATHETIC WARDEN AND THE PRIOR EXISTENCE OF AN EXCELLENT PRIMARY, SECONDARY, AND COLLEGE PREPARATORY PROGRAM IN THE PRISON SCHOOL. THE ECC PROGRAM WAS VIEWED AS A NATURAL EXTENSION OF THE PRISON SCHOOL PROGRAM AND AN OUTLET FOR ITS HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES. OBSERVATION BY A NEWSPAPER REPORTER OF THE PROGRAM'S FIRST 26 ENROLLEES, AT WORK ON THEIR 4 COURSES, REVEALED INMATES, TEACHERS, AND PRISON OFFICIALS WORKING TOGETHER IN AN ENVIRONMENT CHARACTERIZED BY HOPE, LACK OF POLITICAL OR RACIAL TENSION, AND SERIOUS MOTIVATION. PARTICIPATING INMATES ARE PAID FOR ATTENDANCE AS THEY WOULD BE FOR WORK IN STATE INDUSTRIES. IN ADDITION, THE RESPECT WHICH PARTICIPANTS GAIN FROM OTHER INMATES HAS POSITIVELY AFFECTED THE PARTICIPANTS' SELF-ESTEEM. CONTRARY TO EXPECTATIONS, PARTICIPANTS ENTERING THE PROGRAM WERE NOT MERELY SEEKING AN EASY ALTERNATIVE TO WORK, BUT WERE HIGHLY MOTIVATED AND EAGER TO LEARN. THE ATTRITION RATE IN THE INMATE PROGRAM WAS MUCH LOWER THAN THAT FOUND IN THE NORMAL COLLEGE CLASSROOM. THE PROGRAM APPEARED TO OFFER THE INMATES MUCH WANTED OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF-DISCIPLINE AND SELF-UNDERSTANDING. FOR MANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS, THE PROGRAM REPRESENTED THEIR FIRST POSITIVE EXPERIENCE WITH SOCIETY. COUNSELING FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS IS ESSENTIAL, AND FOLLOWUP OF THE INMATE WHO WISHES TO CONTINUE HIS STUDIES AFTER RELEASE IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF COUNSELING. APPLICATIONS FOR THE SECOND SEMESTER OF THE PROGRAM WERE ALMOST DOUBLE THOSE FOR THE FIRST SEMESTER, AND BECAUSE OF LIMITED SPACE, CAREFUL COLLEGE-READINESS SCREENING OF INMATES WAS REQUIRED. A WAITING LIST OF ELIGIBLE PERSONS HAD TO BE COMPILED. A LETTER FROM AN INMATE-STUDENT CLEARLY REVEALED THE TRULY REHABILITATIVE EFFECTS OF THE PROGRAM BOTH IN TERMS OF THE INMATE'S RELATIONSHIP WITH HIMSELF AND WITH THE INSTITUTIONS OF SOCIETY. (JAP)