Vocational Education in Correctional Institutions: State-of the Art Assessment of Programs in Region IV. Executive Summary.

Overview & Synopsis

A project was initiated to describe vocational education in correctional institutions in Health, Education, and Welfare Region IV, the Southeastern United States. Project objectives were to (1) produce a data and knowledge base concerning correctional institutions' vocational education; (2) describe and quantify Region IV correctional vocational education characteristics; (3) delineate and evaluate issues essential to serving the target population; (4) describe Region IV vocational education programs' organization; (5) illustrate innovative vocational education practices potentially transportable to other institutions; and (6) generate recommendations to improve program effectiveness. Data was collected through a literature review, site visit interviews, a survey of seventy-three institution's officials, and a review of twenty-one exemplary programs. Issues identified were populations served, barriers and needs, funding, policy, coordination and cooperation, planning, delivery system's organizational structure, existing programs' characteristics, and the nature of successful/exemplary programs. Findings included the following. Over 40% adults and 42% juveniles were involved in vocational education programs. The most critical barriers were related to lack of policy, comprehensive programs, and appropriate funding and program isolation. The adult level personnel need was greatest for vocational teachers. Improved interagency coordination and cooperation was one of the three recommendations. (CSS)