PRISON COLLEGE PROGRAMS

• NCJ Number: 147994
• Journal: Prison Journal Volume: 74 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1994) Pages: 51-61
• Author(s): S G McCollum
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 11 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Revised version of a paper presented at the 4th European International Conference on Prison Education, June 14-17, 1993, Stockholm, Sweden

Annotation

This article discusses prison college programs and the fluctuating levels of public support for them.

Abstract

There seems to be consensus in the United States that prison education programs can properly include literacy, vocational education, and life-skill programs. However, this agreement does not extend to college programs. These programs depend, to a large extent, on Federal tuition assistance, and there is a section of public opinion which is critical of tax supported grants to pay for prison college programs. Although a significant body of research has developed that demonstrates a positive correlation between higher education and postrelease success, college programs continue to be the most vulnerable of all prison education programs. If research continues to show that the programs are cost-effective and influence recidivism in positive ways, the situation may stabilize. Tables, references