NCJ Number
68072
Date Published
1979
Length
21 pages
Annotation
IN THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS 89 INMATES OF A TESTED GROUP OF 582 REPORTED COMPLETION OF THE 12TH GRADE; THEIR AVERAGE READING LEVEL WAS 9TH GRADE WITH WRITING AND ARITHMETIC AT 10TH GRADE LEVEL.
Abstract
OF THESE 89 MALES, 65 PERCENT READ BELOW AVERAGE BUT 37 (42 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL AND 64 PERCENT OF THE BELOW AVERAGE GROUP) TESTED AT DULL NORMAL LEVEL OR HIGHER AND COULD PERFORM BETTER ACADEMICALLY IF PROPERLY EDUCATED. A TOTAL OF 20 (22 PERCENT) READ AT FOURTH GRADE LEVEL OR LOWER, WITH 7 TESTING AT AN INTELLIGENCE LEVEL OF DULL NORMAL OR HIGHER. IN WRITING, 88 PERCENT WERE BELOW AVERAGE WITH 60 PERCENT TESTING AT AN INTELLIGENCE LEVEL THAT INDICATES THEY COULD DO BETTER. IN ARITHMETIC, 97 PERCENT FUNCTION BELOW AVERAGE, WITH 69 PERCENT TESTING AT A LEVEL THAT INDICATES ABILITY TO PERFORM BETTER IF EDUCATED. THE 56 BLACK INMATES HAD LOWER ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS THAN THE 33 WHITE INMATES BUT THEIR INTELLIGENCE LEVELS WERE JUST AS HIGH. AN ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR MISSISSIPPI'S CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IS RECOMMENDED. THE STUDY RESULTS ARE PRESENTED STATISTICALLY AND IN NARRATIVE FORM.