Predicting the Consequences…An Inside Look at Correctional

EducationKizzy. V. Crawford Heath

Nash Community College, English InstructorMay 18, 2006

What is Correctional Education?

• Correctional Education provides the basic knowledge, skills, and attributes to make adult and youth inmates literate.

Criterion for Entrance in Correctional Education Program

• Correctional education is usually offered to medium custody inmates. Minimum and close custody inmates are offered educational opportunities when deemed appropriate and necessary.

• Inmates are interviewed to determine their interests, abilities, and needs. Once the interview is conducted, a case manager analyzes the results and ascertains whether or not the individual would benefit from the educational program. The inmates length of incarceration also plays a vital part in placement into a program.

Inmate Classification

• Upon admission into a prison facility, classification specialists develop an individual profile of the inmate which includes their crime, socio-economical background, education, job skills, work history, health, and criminal record.

• Based upon the information collected, inmates can be classified into five categories:

CLASSIFICATION

MINIMUM III

MINIMUM II MINIMUM I

MEDIUM

CLOSE

PRISON

Custody Level

• The length of the prison sentence, prior criminal history, and immediate crime committed formulate the security risk of the inmate.

Issues Correctional Educators Face

• Safety

• Professionalism

• Stress

• Gender Bias

Correctional Education Issues

• Safety should be the primary concern of an instructor because they are trying to educate individuals who are held against their will.

• Professionalism is extremely important. An instructor should dress appropriately at all times. They should also limit their conversation with inmates and custodial staff to a minimum in an effort to prevent familiarity (i.e. no ties, short skirts, or low cut shirts).

• Stress can be dealt with by exercising and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It is a condition of employment at a correctional facility; therefore, do not take your work home and get over any problems you experienced before you start a new day.

Gender Bias

• The correctional educator must maintain dual roles as an educator and safety implementer. Although a majority of the time, correctional educators are not trained on the safety and security guidelines of the institution, they are however responsible for the safety of the inmates within their realm of instruction. As a correctional educator, your opinions of institutional guidelines or animosity toward an inmate should never be expressed.

Institutional Security Procedures

• Institutional security procedures focus on impeding the escape of an inmate. The control of inmates should be maintained to preserve the orderly operation of the institution on a daily basis. If security procedures are not followed, the institution is deemed unsafe and daily operational tasks could be interrupted.

Primary Job of Correctional Educators

• The correctional educator must provide educational services, and maintain a safe and secure environment within the facilty.

Guidelines for Safety Procedures

• Observe and report suspicious and unusual activities and cooperate as security staff performs their duties

• Obey institutional rules; report rule violations• Search work area for contraband periodically• Inventory supplies and equipment in the

classroom• Be knowledgeable about security procedures

through participation in training• Offender and educator relationships should be

strictly professional• Never converse conflict in the presence of an

inmate

Areas of Concern for Correctional Educators

Areas of Concern

• Any relationship other than a professional relationship is not allowed and it endangers employees, inmates, and the institution if it exists.

• All inmates should be treated the same to eliminate rumors, jealously, and trouble.

• Protect school equipment and supplies because inmates can use them as contraband.

• Never use force, coercion, or profanity toward an inmate or custodial staff at the prison.

Referral Programs for Inmates

• If an inmate is being released or transferring to another facility before the completion of their diploma you should encourage them to enroll in the GED program at that institution or at the nearest community college.

• If an inmate has completed the GED program, refer them to their case manager for information on college courses.

• Inmates who have their GED and are released into the community should be encouraged to apply for admission at the nearest community college for post secondary education opportunities.

Correctional Educators

Always remember that the inmates are our students. Therefore, we should treat them as such.

Quotes

Only the educated are free.

----- Epictetus

However,

Pay attention to what they tell you to forget.

-------Muriel Rukeyser

Works Cited

• Franklin, P. (2001). Sanity in an Insane Workplace. Correctional Education Association. Retrieved on May 12, 2004 from website http://www.cea.com.

• Division of Prisons. (1997). North Carolina Division of Prison Program Services. Retrieved on June 16, 2004 from website http://www.doc.state.nc.us.