THE ASSESSMENT WAS UNDERTAKEN WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT, ALTHOUGH DHEW PROVIDED OVER 60 PERCENT OF ALL FEDERAL FUNDS SPENT ON CORRECTIONS EDUCATION IN 1975, THE AGENCY LACKED A COHERENT POLICY TO GUIDE ITS INVOLVEMENT AND TO COORDINATE ITS EFFORTS WITH THOSE OF OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES, ESPECIALLY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. THE REPORT OPENS WITH AN EXTENSIVE OVERVIEW OF CORRECTIONS EDUCATION -- DEFINITIONS, PURPOSES, HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, CLIENTS, RANGE AND TYPES OF CORRECTIONS EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS. EFFORTS TO COORDINATE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE VARIOUS INVOLVED FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE EXAMINED, AS ARE FEDERAL LAWS PERTAINING TO THE FUNDING OF CORRECTIONS EDUCATION PROJECTS. TWO GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE REPORTS ON FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT IN CORRECTIONS EDUCATION PROGRAMMING ARE SUMMARIZED. DESCRIPTIONS ARE PRESENTED OF ALL FEDERAL CORRECTIONS EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS ARE ORGANIZED BY AGENCY AND AGENCY SUBDIVISION AND INCLUDE INFORMATION ON FUNDING ALLOCATIONS. CONCLUSIONS ARE DRAWN REGARDING THE JUSTIFICATION FOR A STRONG DHEW ROLE IN CORRECTIONS EDUCATION. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEFINING THE DHEW ROLE AND PROMOTING INTERAGENCY COOPERATION ARE PRESENTED, TOGETHER WITH AN OUTLINE OF AREAS OF NEED IN THE FIELD OF CORRECTIONS EDUCATION. SUPPORTING DATA AND A 13-PAGE SUMMARY ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)