NCJ Number
189047
Journal
Journal of Correctional Education Volume: 52 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2001 Pages: 79-83
Date Published
June 2001
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article addresses the unique, and often unmet, educational needs of female inmates and describes a number of innovative programs and methods that compose and extend prison literacy programs and prepare female offenders for re-entry into the community.
Abstract
The profile of the "typical" female offender nationwide is one that includes substance abuse, low self-esteem, and sexual abuse. The cycle of emotional dependence, abuse, and low self-esteem are factors that affect female offenders more than male offenders. A number of programs carefully designed to address the holistic needs of female offenders are built into and extend the literacy program at the author's school, the Eddie Warrior Correctional Center (EWCC) in Taft, OK. Most of the programs described in this article either originated at EWCC or have been changed and updated to meet EWCC's mission of preparing the female inmate for re-entry into society. In addition to describing the individual programs, the article also describes the process by which educational plans and processes are individualized based on an assessment of individual student needs. A 12-step philosophy of practice guides program implementation. The steps guide staff to provide a nurturing atmosphere; encourage personal investment by staff; promote positive relationships; orient the school environment toward the affective needs of the inmates; allow students to buy into the system and invest themselves in the process; encourage leadership among the students; reconnect mothers with their children; encourage spiritual renewal; maintain high expectations for all students; be free with praise; allow success to happen; and reward success. 17 references