Grants to States for Workplace and Community Transition Training for Incarcerated Youth Offenders

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Grants to States for Workplace and Community
Transition Training for Incarcerated Youth
Offenders

• Youth Offender Program

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Importance of Education in North Carolina

• 40 of prison population did not have a High
  School Diploma or GED in 1997.
• By 2004, a typical inmate entering prison was
  reading at 9th grade level and math skills were
  equivalent at 7th grade level. (July, 2005, NCDOC
  Office of Research Planning)
• Recidivism was 46 lower for prisoners who had
  participated in postsecondary correctional
  education than for those ex-offenders who had not
  taken any college classes. Id. At p.9

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Recidivism EducationA Direct Link

• Federal Bureau of Prisons reported a direct
  correlation between education and low recidivism
  rates (Harer, 1994).
• The more educational programs inmates completed
  while incarcerated, the lower the recidivism rate
  (Harer, 1994).
• Another study reported inmates who received
  either vocational/technical training in prison
  had the highest rate of post-release employment
  (Anderson, Anderson, Schumacker, 1988).

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Program Accomplishments

• Student-inmates demonstrated consistent interest
  requested to enroll in more than three-course
  max. per year.
• 253 college courses have been offered with a
  total enrollment of 2,604 and an average GPA of
  2.18
• 636 participated in Cognitive Behavior
  Intervention
• 479 participated in Employability Skills Training

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Program Accomplishments cont

• Ongoing development of three Employment Resource
  Centers located at Wake Correctional Institution,
  Sampson Correctional Institution and Fountain
  Correctional Institution for Women.
• Partnered with North Carolina Central and IBM to
  acquire computers for college level computer
  classes.
• Expanded the workplace and community transition
  youth program, bringing the total number of
  facilities to fourteen.

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Program Highlights

• Program was initiated within the North Carolina
  prison system eight years ago.
• The five youth facilities were the initial target
  market for program.
• Successful in the youth facilities and expanded
  to current total of 13 facilities.
• Correspondence courses added in FY 05.

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Program Highlights(cont)

• Added computers and offered computer related
  classes this past semester.
• Budget increase for the coming fiscal year.
• Current plans are to add three more facilities to
  the program.
• Assured coming budget to include an increase in
  funds.

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Mission Statement

• The primary mission of the Youth Offender
• Program is the reduction of recidivism through a
• highly structured educational based program.
• Youthful offenders are challenged to utilize
  their skills
• to successfully complete college level courses,
• modify present behavioral patterns that may lead
  to
• criminal activity, and to gain insight into daily
  activities
• by successfully completing employability skills
• program.

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Three Primary Elements

• Provide incarcerated youth post-secondary
  education. (Both on and off facility classes)
• Provide cognitive behavioral modification
  training for inmates.
• Provide employability skills training program for
  inmates.

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Program Requirements

• Must possess a High School Diploma or GED
  Certificate.
• Must be 25 years of age or younger.
• Eligible for release or parole within 5 years.

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Post-Secondary Education

• North Carolina Division of Prisons have
• partnered with North Carolina University System
• to provide educational opportunities through
• curriculum programs allowing inmates to receive
• an Associate and/or Bachelors degrees. In
• addition, Distance Learning, in the form
• correspondence courses, has been an added
• venue for inmates.

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Behavioral Modification Training

• Develops cognitive skills
• Builds character
• Enhances critical thinking skills
• Heightens self-awareness

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Employability Skills Training

• To prepare the inmates for the world-to-work
• Writing Resumes
• Effective Interviewing Techniques
• Appropriate Attire
• How to Keep the Job

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Effective Practices in Correctional Education

• Things to consider
• Administration
• Academic Programs
• Special Education
• Employment Preparation
• Transition and Support Services
• Program Evaluation and Research

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Pending Legislation

• Increase eligibility from age 25 to age 35.
• Required five years remain as it currently
  stands.
• Up to a max of 1,500.00 per year-max same as
  Pell Grant.
• Funds may be utilized for post release support
  continuing for up to one year after release.

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What Would the Pending Legislation Mean ??

• The Youth Offender Program currently
• provide services for approximately 6,000 inmates.
• With an increase in eligilibility from age 25 to
  35,
• the population that would qualify for service
  with
• the Youth Offender Program, would increase
• to 17,000 inmates.

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Program Contacts

• Rose True, Education Director
• 919-838-3642 Fax[phone]
• Ruth Duncan, Education Specialist
• 919-838-3649 der05_at_doc.state.nc.us
• Ken Phillips, Program Manager
• 919-838-3647 pkw05_at_doc.state.nc.us

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• QUESTIONS