VANDERBILT PRISON (NASHVILLE, TN) PROJECT - ANNUAL REPORT, 1976/1977

• NCJ Number: 54524
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 14 pages
• Corporate Author: Vanderbilt University
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE VANDERBILT PRISON PROJECT, AND STAFFED BY STUDENT VOLUNTEERS FROM VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY, ARE DESCRIBED.

Abstract

THE VANDERBILT PRISON PROJECT HAS EIGHT PRIMARY PROGRAMS: (1) THE TUTORING PROGRAM AT THE TENNESSEE STATE PENITENTIARY, (2) COUNSELING AT THE TENNESSEE STATE PENITENTIARY, (3) THE SPENCER YOUTH CENTER TUTORING AND VISITATION PROGRAMS, (4) DISMAS HOUSE, (5) SOCIAL INTERACTION PROGRAM, (6) SOUTH FORTY SOUTH, (7) PRISON LIFE COURSE, AND (8) INDEPENDENT STUDY. THE TUTORING PROGRAM AT THE TENNESSEE STATE PENITENTIARY INVOLVES WORKING WITH INMATES IN REMEDIAL ENGLISH AND MATHEMATICS AND IN COURSES OFFERED BY THE COLLEGE BEHIND THE WALLS. COUNSELING AT THE PENITENTIARY INCLUDES ONE-TO-ONE COUNSELING, GROUP THERAPY, AND RECREATIONAL THERAPY. AT SPENCER YOUTH CENTER, STUDENT VOLUNTEERS EITHER VISIT OR COUNSEL JUVENILES USING RATIONAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY WHICH STRESSES PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ONE'S ACTIONS AND BEHAVIOR. DISMAS HOUSE IS A HALFWAY HOUSE PARTIALLY STAFFED WITH LIVE-IN STUDENT VOLUNTEERS; IT SERVES AS A HALFWAY RESIDENCE FOR MEN MAKING THE TRANSITION FROM PRISON TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD. THE SOCIAL INTERACTION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR INMATES AT A MINIMUM SECURITY HONOR FARM. ONCE A WEEK, STUDENT VOLUNTEERS TAKE INMATES FROM THEIR INSTITUTION INTO THE COMMUNITY. THE SOCIAL INTERACTION PROGRAM CONSTITUTES AN EFFORT TO INFORM STUDENTS AND OTHERS ABOUT PRISON LIFE, AND IN THE PROCESS, INMATES LEARN COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND GAIN CONFIDENCE IN DEALING WITH SOCIETY. THE SOUTH FORTY SOUTH PROGRAM HAS UNION THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN AN INTENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAM WITH THE PRISON PROJECT IN TENNESSEE, AND VANDERBILT DIVINITY SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN A SIMILAR PROGRAM IN NEW YORK. THE VANDERBILT PRISON PROJECT ALSO PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO PURSUE INDEPENDENT STUDY IN THE CORRECTIONS FIELD. THE PRISON LIFE COURSE AT VANDERBILT IS A STRUCTURED EFFORT AT EDUCATING STUDENTS IN CORRECTIONS. THE VANDERBILT PRISON PROJECT IS CONSIDERED TO BE A VALUABLE PROGRAM, BUT IT IS IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE. (MLC)