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MINNESOTA - DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION - STATE PRISON AND STATE REFORMATORY FOR MEN - SURVEY AND COST ANALYSIS OF EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS

NCJ Number
67587
Author(s)
ANON
Date Published
1978
Length
24 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM AN ASSESSMENT OF COST PER PARTICIPANT AND INMATE USE OF THE EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT THE MINNESOTA STATE PRISON AND THE STATE REFORMATORY FOR MEN IN 1977.
Abstract
THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS WAS DETERMINED FOR EACH PROGRAM DURING THE 6-MONTH PERIOD JANUARY 1, 1977, THROUGH JUNE 30, 1977, AND PARTICIPATION WAS PROJECTED FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR UNDER THE ASSUMPTION OF CONSTANCY (PARTICPANT RECORDS FOR THE FULL YEAR WERE NOT AVAILABLE). PROGRAM EXPENDITURES WERE OBTAINED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. COST FIGURES INCLUDED INSTRUCTOR SALARIES AND FRINGE BENEFITS, SUPPLIES AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. AT THE MINNESOTA STATE PRISON (MSP), DATA WERE OBTAINED FOR THE ADULT BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAM AND THE GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR WHICH DATA WERE COLLECTED WERE WELDING, DRAFTING, OFFICE MACHINE REPAIR, PRO SHOP, MACHINE SHOP, AND ARTS IN CORRECTIONS. AT THE STATE REFORMATORY FOR MEN (SRM), DATA WERE COLLECTED FOR 13 VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND 6 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS SUGGESTS A COST OF ABOUT $4,500 PER STUDENT YEAR FOR INMATE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. IF DIRECT COSTS ARE ASSUMED TO REPRESENT 60 PERCENT OF TOTAL COSTS, THEN MSP EDUCATION PROGRAM EXPENDITURES MEET THE COST STANDARD. SRM EDUCATION EXPENDITURES WERE ESTIMATED AT $6,150 PER PARTICIPANT YEAR, HIGHER THAN MSP. IN VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS, THE STANDARDS SUGGEST A MINIMUM ANNUAL EXPENDITURE PER STUDENT OF $2,400. MSP PROGRAMS WERE ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $7,000 PER STUDENT YEAR AND SRM ABOUT $7,500 PER STUDENT YEAR. SRM EDUCATIONAL COSTS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN MSP'S PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE VARIETY AND TYPES OF SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAMS OFFERED. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FOR A BETTER ACCOUNTING SYSTEM TO FACILITATE THE DETERMINATION OF PROGRAM COSTS, FOR ACCURATE DAILY RECORDKEEPING FOR THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS, AND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF EVALUATION DESIGNS FOR THE EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO DETERMINE IF OBJECTIVES ARE BEING MET. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)