Neither imprisonment nor community programs will be successful if the participants do not receive effective preparation for gainful employment. Residents of today's correctional institutions have had many failures in the public school setting and are unlikely to return there after release. They understandably prefer work assignments to school while in the institution. While the attraction and practicality of vocational programs for inmates is compelling, academic proficiency may be the key to long-range personal satisfaction, job advancement, and responsible citizenship. Many offenders also are deficient in life skills, such as managing personal health, personal finances, and parenting. It is not uncommon to have adult educators who are not professionally trained, and thus prison educators often must create their own materials. An instructional plan developed by Western Illinois University integrates skills such as completing applications and reading instructions with occupational experiences. Matrixes are used to identify levels of skills needed for specific job areas, as well as to write objectives, design instructional packets, and track progress. Instructional packets allow students to work at their own pace and can be placed in institutional programs, wilderness experiences, or work-based rehabilitation settings. The move to develop prison industries which more accurately portray the world of work and necessary basic skills is a corollary to the concept of integrating basic academic skills into work experiences.