U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

COLLEGE BEHIND THE WALLS - FACTORS INFLUENCING A POST-SECONDARY INMATE EDUCATION PROGRAM

NCJ Number
49511
Author(s)
J P GALLEY; M H PARSONS
Date Published
1976
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THE PRISON EDUCATION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED BY THE HAGERSTOWN JUNIOR COLLEGE AT THE MARYLAND CORRECTIONAL TRAINING CENTER IS EXAMINED.
Abstract
IN LATE 1969, COOPERATIVELY PREPARED GUIDELINES WERE ADOPTED BY THE COLLEGE AND THE CENTER FOR THE PRISON EDUCATION PROGRAM. AN INMATE SCREENING COMMITTEE ON WHICH THE COLLEGE AND THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY ARE REPRESENTED SCREENS AND SELECTS APPLICANTS TO THE PROGRAM. FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY A FEDERAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANT AND BY THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO SERVE A WIDE RANGE OF INDIVIDUAL INMATE DIFFERENCES. SEVERAL INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES INVOLVING VARIED LENGTHS OF CLASSROOM WORK, COURSE SIZES, AND INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY TECHNIQUES ARE UTILIZED. INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING AND TESTING ALLOW THE COLLEGE TO ADDRESS INDIVIDUAL STUDENT NEEDS AND GOALS. STUDENTS AGREE TO CONTRACT WITH THE PROGRAM TO EXHIBIT ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR, AND CONTINUATION IN THE PROGRAM IS DEPENDENT UPON SUCCESSFUL EXECUTION OF THE PROGRAM. A CAMPUS RELEASE PROGRAM HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED, WITH AN 84.5-PERCENT SUCCESS RATE. RECIDIVISM RATES ARE LOWER FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND, OVERALL, MANY INMATES HAVE ACQUIRED PREVIOUSLY LACKING BASIC SKILLS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DP)