NCJ Number
59755
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
AN EXAMINATION OF THE LONG BUT UNCERTAIN RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HIGHER EDUCATION AND CORRECTIONS IS PRESENTED IN THIS ARTICLE. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OFFERED ON WAYS TO ENHANCE THE ACCEPTANCE OF SUCH PROGRAMS.
Abstract
CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE WORTH SAVING IN SPITE OF THE DIFFICULTIES CONFRONTED BY SUCH PROGRAMS. THE BRIEF HISTORY OF SUCH PROGRAMS HAS SHOWN A STRONG INTEREST BOTH WITHIN THE EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENT AND THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE AND APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE REPORTS BY THE JOINT COMMISSION ON CORRECTIONAL MANPOWER AND TRAINING IN THE LATE 1960'S ESTABLISHED (1) THE DOMINANCE OF SOCIOLOGY AND ITS OFFSPRING, CRIMINOLOGY, OVER CORRECTIONS EDUCATION; (2) THE RELUCTANCE OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO ACCEPT THESE PROGRAMS; (3) CONFUSION OVER WHETHER TO USE THE SOCIAL SCIENCE CONCEPT OR THE SOCIAL WORK FORM AS THE MODEL FOR DEVELOPING CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS; (4) CONFUSION OVER THE APPROPRIATE ACADEMIC LEVEL FOR SUCH INSTRUCTION; AND (5) INABILITY TO CLASSIFY EXISTING SOCIAL WORK SCHOOLS AS BEING PART OF, OR SEPARATE FROM, CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION. THE LATE 1960'S ALSO MARKED THE BEGINNING OF A RAPID GROWTH IN THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. PART OF THE PROBLEM FACED BY SUCH PROGRAMS RESTS IN THE RELUCTANCE OF EMPLOYERS TO SET AND ENFORCE EDUCATION-BASED CRITERIA FOR LOWER-LEVEL POSITIONS. THEY HAVE ALSO TENDED TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FOR HIGHER-LEVEL POSITIONS REGARDLESS OF THE TYPE OF DEGREE THE APPLICANT HAS ACQUIRED. CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS MUST BEGIN TO DEVELOP SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL CRITERIA FOR EMPLOYMENT, WITH SPECIFIC RECOGNITION OF CORRECTIONAL CURRICULA AS THE PREFERRED CRITERIA. THIS WILL NOT ONLY REDUCE THE NEED FOR COSTLY IN-HOUSE TRAINING PROGRAMS, BUT IT WILL ALSO FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS ON THE ASSOCIATE, BACHELOR, AND GRADUATE LEVELS. TABLES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (KCP)