Post-Secondary Education: An Evaluation of Effectiveness and Efficiency

• NCJ Number: 140196
• Journal: Journal of Correctional Education Volume: 43 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1992) Pages: 132-141
• Author(s): J M Taylor
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

With the expansive growth of postsecondary correctional education programs over the past few decades and the controversy surrounding such opportunities, the value of these programs has been questioned.

Abstract

The author looks at postsecondary correctional education in terms of rehabilitative effectiveness, postrelease employment effectiveness, institutional effectiveness, cost efficiency, funding efficiency, and return on investment. He contends that postsecondary correctional education programs provide a substantial return on society's investment. Such programming can reduce recidivism, promote civility, develop cognition, and encourage confidence. Postsecondary educational programs can also reduce disciplinary problems in the correctional setting, increase inmate-staff communication, provide incentives for good behavior, facilitate staff recruitment and training, and positively influence the postrelease behavior of inmates. These programs represent a cost- effective rehabilitative and institutional option. 86 references, 13 footnotes, and 3 figures