FOLLOW- URPE PORTTO THE
: JOINTS ELECTC OMMITTEOEN
CORRECTIONS
TERRYL . STEWART
Director
December 16,1997
1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FOLLOW- URPE PORTT O THE
JOINTS ELECTC OMMITTEOEN
CORRECTIONS
TERRYL . STEWART
Director
December 16,1997
v CONTENTS
IMnterdocdouPctriiovna . te. P. r. i. s. o. n. .............................................................................................................. 21
SecurityThreatGroups ...................................................... 4 Zero Tolerance Proposal for Contraband. ....................................... 6 Contraba. n . d Property and Storage ............................................. 8 Telemedicine ............................................................... 9
Kingmanprivateprison ..................................................... 11
Partnerships Between the Private Sector and Arizona Correctional Industries .......... 12 Suitable Inmate Jobs for Private SectorIPrison Industry ........................... 1 3
Wages Earned by Inmates Employed in Arizona Correctional Industries During FY 97 ... 14 Truthinsentencing ........................................................ 1 5
PhonicsBasedEducation ..................................................... 17
INTRODUCTION
The information contained within this report was prepared by the Arizona Department of Corrections
( ADC) for the December 16, 1997 meeting of the Joint Select Committee on Corrections ( JSCC).
The JSCC was established by Laws 1994, Chapter 195. Pursuant to A. R. S. Ej 41- 1610.04, the JSCC
is required to receive testimony fiom the Department of Corrections regarding prison population and
other matters relating to prison construction or prison operations. Consistent with the charge of the
JSCC, this report contains pertinent information relating to the operation of the Arizona prison
system.
The document reviews information relating to the following subjects: Private Prison Issues; Security
Threat Groups ( STG's); the Zero Tolerance Proposal for Contraband; Contraband Property and
Storage; Telemedicine; Arizona Correctional Industries ( ACI); Truth in Sentencing; and, Inmate
Education.
MEXICO PRIVATE PRISON
The ADC is exploring the potential of contracting with a prison management company for the
development, construction and operation of a prison that will house 1,000 to 1,600 inmates who meet
the following criteria: The inmates have been sentenced to the ADC but are citizens of the Republic
of Mexico. They have entered the United States ( U. S.) illegally and have been sentenced for non-immigration
offenses. They have also been ordered deported, by the U. S. Immigration and
Naturalization Services, upon completion of their prison sentence.
This plan is unique in that the aforementioned prison would be constructed in Mexico, and the
inmates sentenced to this facility would be those ADC inmates who are illegal aliens from Mexico.
This is beneficial because a one- way population is created. Once these inmates become incarcerated
at this private facility they would not return to the ADC, unless exceptional circumstances arose.
Furthermore, this concept allows for a documented cost invoice. Currently, the Department receives
Federal h d monies which provide compensation to the State for the incarceration of illegal aliens.
These monies are obtained under the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program ( SCAAP) Grant. The
opportunity to have an annual cost for a private prison dedicated to the confinement of illegal aliens
would enhance the State's position in requesting an appropriate level of finding under this grant.
An immediate benefit of this plan is the considerable anticipated cost savings due to the considerably
lower construction and operational costs that are encountered in Mexico. American industry has
recognized this advantage for some time and the result has been the development of substantial
manufacturing enterprises in Mexico under the sponsorship of U. S. corporations.
Currently, ADC inmates, who are citizens of Mexico, may request a transfer to a prison in their
country of origin under the provisions of the 1977 Treaty Between The United States of America and
The UnitedMexican States on the Execution of Penal Sentences. However, the transfer process is
quite cumbersome and is complicated by the involvement of multi- level governmental agencies.
Consequently, individual inmates use this mechanism to achieve a transfer, but it is tlot an effective
vehicle for the transfer of large numbers of inmates, as envisioned.
Furthermore, those ADC inmates who are citizens and residents of Mexico, experience substantial
cultural dislocation during their period of incarceration in U. S. prisons. Typically their families are
in a distant location and are unable to visit. Additionally, the inmate experiences major
communication problems due to the language barriers. These language and cultural obstacles leave
the inmate feeling isolated and cohsed.
The concept under development can resolve many of these issues and can provide significant benefits,
including the following:
AdvantagesBenefits to the State of Arizona:
Prison overcrowding could be reduced by the transfer of 1,000 to 1,600 inmates.
Prison construction costs could be reduced, due to the lower costs encountered in Mexico.
Prison operational costs could also be reduced for the same reason.
AdvantagesBenefits to the Republic of Mexico:
This could be the first step in the development of a desirable industry with substantial growth
potential.
Opportunities could be provided for collaborative efforts which could benefit current prison
practices.
AdvantagesBenefits to the inmates selected to transfer:
Family contacts could he re- established.
Language barriers between inmates and st& could be eliminated.
A more culturally compatible environment could be provided.
This concept has been placed " on hold pending the outcome of the proposal's review, which will
now be performed by the Governor's stafY If the proposal is approved, the Department will proceed
with the legal research that is required to ensure that constitutional and statutory provisions are met
during the implementation of this plan.
SECURITY THREAT GROUPS
Within the ADC system exists a gang element which creates a threat to the safety of the employees
of the ADC, the other inmates and the residents of Arizona. The ADC has labeled these gang
elements as Security Threat Groups ( STG's).
A STG Unit was established by the Director to iden* gang members, and to minimize the threat that
inmate gang- like activities pose to the safe, secure and efficient operation of our institutions. This
six ( 6) man unit works in conjunction with special security units and the law enforcement community
to identify and track individual gang members and their activities inside the institutions.
Five STG groups have been certified by the Director, and the members of those groups have been
validated. To date, those groups are: ( 1) Aryan Brotherhood; ( 2) Old Mexican Mafia; ( 3) New
Mexican Mafia; ( 4) Border Brothers; and, ( 5) Grandels.
Once inmates are validated as STG members, they are afforded the opportunity to renounce their
membership. Ifthey r& se to renounce, they are immediately transferred to the Special Management
Unit 11 ( SMU 11) and removed fiom the general prison population.
STG Status Report ( As of December 10, 1997):
Inmates Heard by STG Committee
Inmates Validated
Packets Returned
Inmates Pending STG Hearings
Inmates Verbalizing Appeals
Appeals Heard by STG Validation Committee
Appeals Denied
Appeals Pending Hearing
Inmates Requests to Renounce
Inmates Successfully Renounced
Inmates Unsuccess~ llyR enounced
Inmates Pending Renunciation
Composition of Validated STG's:
Aryan Brotherhood 3 8
Old Mexican Mafia 23
New Mexican Mafia 11
Border Brothers 3 2
Grandels 18
STG's Pending Validation:
- can American Nations
Bloods
Crips
Warrior Society
ZERO TOLERANCE PROPOSAL FOR CONTRABAND
Also within the ADC system, there exists an extensive inmate management system that involves both
the classification system ( which assesses the totality of the inmate's behavior) and the discipline
system ( which assesses and responds to the individual acts of the inmate's behavior).
Inmates who violate the rules of discipline are subject to a variety of sanctions that include categories
of offenses considered minor and major, with various sanctions ranging fiom loss of privileges, to loss
of release credits, assignment to isolation, extra duty, etc.
If an inmate's behavior is so disruptive and threatening to the orderly operation of the prison, the
inmate can be reclassified to higher custody levels, resulting in more restrictive movement and loss
of release credit earning status.
The Department has begun adopting and implementing a concept referred to as Zero Tolerance which
applies to both d t i v e behavior ( toward staff and inmates), possession or use of weapons, and the
possession or use of narcotics.
Use of Narcotic Detection Dogs:
During calendar year 1997 to date ( January- November), a total of seventeen ( 17) dog teams
conducted approximately 113,600 " sniffs"/ searches. It is our position, after examining all of the
ingradegress points at each prison, that a total of 3 5 dog teams is essential to signrficantly stem the
introduction of illegal contraband into the prisons. This would require a policy issue approval.
In order to eliminate all introduction of illegal contraband the Department would be forced to
implement the following:
All inmate visitations would have to be non- contact. Currently, with the exception of a few
non- contact booths at each prison, inmates and visitors have direct contact.
All inmates would have to be strip searched with the aid of a drug dog every time they enter
and depart a prison.
All employees would have to be searched every time they enter a prison, and also be subject
to a search by a drug dog.
Use of Dogs for Cell Extractions:
Currently, trained staffmembers are used to control, with minimal force, inmates who are assaultive
or threatening. A pilot program is being finalized for implementation within ADC to use cell-extraction
dogs to remove inmates fiom cells, or as a show of force, in order to reduce the injuries
to staff. The State of Utah currently has such a program in place. Virginia Department of
Corrections has the identical program; from 199 1 - 1994, that system encountered 478 incidents in
which they responded with a dog for cell extraction purposes. It was deployed only once; thus,
avoiding staff and inmate injury.
CONTRABAND PROPERTY AND STORAGE
Currently, each inmate is allowed to possess considerable property, all of which must be able to be
transported in a s i d e duffel bag, with the exception of an appliance and legal materials. The agency
is concerned with the level of manpower and expense that is required to inspect inmate property that
has been mailed into the prison system.
Furthermore, due to the interpretation of information regarding the types of property inmates are
allowed to possess, property contrary to specifications sometimes enters the system. In time, and as
policy changes occur, these items are allowed to remain under a " grandfather" provision.
In the coming months, the Department plans to review the inmate property policy and eliminate all
" grandfathering7' of items or contraband property.
It is proposed that all inmate property that is allowed to be possessed, will be sold exclusively
through the inmate store. This will ensure that every item sold will be in absolute accordance
with spdcations. For example, the television that an inmate would be allowed to possess
would be specified as speakerless; it would only operate with an earphone. Rather than
continue to allow $ 100-$ 150 tennis shoes, we would spece a brand that would be less than
$ 50.
Any contraband, excess or non- grandfathered property would be stored in a centralized
warehouse, until such time as the inmate was released from prison or chose to mail it to his
family. It would not accompany the inmate from prison to prison, as the inmate was
transferred.
Another related change will be a complete revision of ADCYsin mate banking policy. Under
the new policy, inmates will be limited to receiving money only from those people on their
visitation list. Furthermore, a revision of the policy rega- ding to whom inmates may send
money will also be completed. Specitic criteria will be outlined relative to how much and for
what reasons any money may be sent out.
Through these modifications and changes to policy, the Department's believes that criminal activity
within the prison system will be greatly reduced. The changes will also enhance the use of ADC staff,
as less pressure will be placed cpon the mail and property room, relative to items mailed in.
TELEMEDICINE
The Arizona Legislature appropriated $ 1.2 million for Fiscal Year 1997 to The University of Arizona
Health Sciences Center for the Arizona Telemedicine Program. This program provides the use of
computers, video imaging, fiber optics, and telecommunications for diagnosis and treatment of
persons in rural, geographically isolated areas and at the Arizona State Prison Complex ( AsPC)-
Yuma.
There are several benefits fi- om the utilization of Telemedicine in the Corrections arena, they include:
Faster access to care and specialists.
Earlier intervention in illness.
Increased medical compliance.
Improved communication between individuals and sites.
Fewer transportation and hospitalization fees.
Lower lab costs.
Lower security risks and costs.
Opportunities to secure competitive managed care contracts.
Improved efficiency for physicians and provider institutions.
Relief of pressures on hospitals and clinics remote to patients.
Support of hospitals and clinics to local patients.
Patients and professional education opportunities.
Increased knowledge of prison capabilities by consulting providers.
Decreased anxiety by prison providers.
Direct learning experience for presenting provider.
Security for presenting provider.
Ease in archiving.
Helps provide a consistent standard of care for patients.
TIigh level of patient and clinician satisfaction.
There are also several potential drawbacks and concerns when using Telemedicine in the Corrections
field, they include:
Lack of empirical data on issues of safety, efficacy, clinical utility, and cost effectiveness.
Increased short- term costs when patients still must be referred to a larger medical center.
Patient confidentiality concerns.
The vulnerability of the technology overuse.
Potential to undermine community medicine.
Costs to establish and support a Telemedicine program.
Uncertainty of profitability and reimbursement.
Difficult legal and regulatory issues raised by the technology.
Integration of equipment.
Limited communications infrastructure.
Requires technological training for clinicians and technical support.
Requires training in clinical presentation.
Requires clinicians to highly organize their time and data.
Not received well by all specialties and specialists.
Needs to be integrated with scheduling.
The ADC is currently practicing Telemedicine at three sites: ( 1) ASPC- Yuma; ( 2) 363 North First
Avenue in Phoenix; and, ( 3) the Arizona Health Services Telemedicine Center. The implementation
of these three programs feature both interactive and storelforward technology.
Additionally, the ADC recognizes the potential for the expansion of Telemedicine within the
Department as the outcome and service levels of the current program are measured and evaluated.
KINGMAN PRIVATE PRISON
The information in this section was provided by Mr. Buster Johnson, County Supervisor, Mohave
County.
The suggested location for this proposed private prison is north of Interstate 40, at the Griflith Road
off- ramp. This remote area is approximately eighteen ( 18) miles south of Kingman, toward Golden
Valley. It has been recommended that the CORPLAN Company, based out of Texas, construct the
facility. CORPLAN Company has estimated the original cost of the private prison at $ 16 million.
Financing of the prison is proposed via the use of " Certificates of Participation." The financing is for
a twenty ( 20) year period, after which time the prison would be owned by Mohave County. It has
also been suggested that water and sewer will be provided by Mohave County, which will allow for
other commercial endeavors in the area.
The initial prison capacity is ( 0; 750 beds, which can be expanded on a one- time basis
Correctional Association ( ACA) standards.
The facility will consist of twk( 2)~ 16' cells, and will be operated consistent
Reportedly, discussions regarding management of the prison have been held with the Bobby Ross
Group, also & om Texas. The Bobby Ross Group, as reported in the last " Private Adult Correctional
Facility Census7' ( Tenth Edition; prepared by Dr. Charles W. Thomas, Director, Private Corrections
Project, University of Florida), operates a variety of facilities in the United States with a bed space
capacity of 2,164 or 2.79% of the Market Share. However, the decision to retain the Bobby Ross
Group as the management company has not been made.
Ideally, local citizens will be hired to staff the facility. However, if these applicants are not qualified,
persons fiom outside Mohave County and Arizona will be recruited. The purported hourly rate for
the private facility staffis at least ten ( 10) dollars per hour. This, however, creates a dilemma for the
County, as Detention Officers working in the Mohave County jail earn substantially less.
ADC staff intends to meet with Mr. Johnson in the near future in order to Wher discuss these
matters. However, the Department believes that jails and prisons are, by design, inherently different.
If this private facility were constructed, the Department would be required to enter into a contract
with Mohave County. Given the differences in design, and the Texas experience in contracting with
local political subdivisions, the Department would only wish to entertain this option as a last resort.
PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN TEE PRIVATE SECTOR AND ARIZONA
CORRECTIONAL INDUSTRIES
Private Sector/ Prison Industry ( PS/ PI) partnerships have emerged as an exciting and mutually
beneficial association for both Arizona Correctional Industries ( ACI) and the Arizona private business
sector. The following provides an overview of the PS/ PI partnership program in Arizona.
ACI work programs provide jobs for inmates in three basic categories: owned and operated prison
industry enterprises; operations in support of intergovernmental agency agreements ( IGA's); and,
PS/ PI partnerships. In the past few years, PS/ PI partnerships have accounted for the single largest
percentage increase in job opportunities in ACI. As of the end of FY 1997, ACI had a total of twelve
( 12) partnership contracts with Arizona private sector businesses. Five ( 5) of these partnerships are
with Arizona farm operators who use inmate workers as field labor on a seasonal basis. The seven
( 7) remaining partnerships are with companies who utilize inmate labor in a variety of diierent
functions in support of their operations on a year- round basis. While most of the partnerships involve
transporting inmate workers to the private sector company's place of business outside of prison, four
( 4) of the private sector partners operate the portion of their business which employs inmates inside
prison facilities.
As the number of prisoners continues to grow, widespread idleness and its inherent potential for
violence underscore the need to provide meaningful work activities for inmates. Productive
employment in jobs provided by the private sector is one positive program option available to ADC.
At the same time that corrections is facing the challenge of a growing inmate population, many
Arizona businesses are experiencing difficulty in filling entry- level labor- intensive jobs. Economic
and demographic trends suggest that shortages of an available workforce for private industry is likely
to continue. Utilizing inmate labor in private sector- jobs is no longer an untested endeavor. In the
last decade, such enterprises have demonstrated that they:
Make good business sense for many companies.
Make prisons easier to mdage.
Provide an opportunity for inmates to work for private firms and to demonstrate their ability
to produce quality goods and services.
rn Generate financial benefits for taxpayer, crime victims, correctional agencies, and inmates'
families.
rn Generate productive jobs for inmates at no capital cost to the public agency.
SUITABLE INMATE JOBS FOR PRIVATE SECTORlPRISON
INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS
There are basically two types of PS/ PI partnerships that ACI is sanctioned under Federal and State
law to develop and participate in. These partnerships are: ( 1) enterprises in which inmate labor is
used to provide services, or man- e products that will be marketed within the boundaries of the
State of Arizona only; and, ( 2) those partnerships in which inmate workers will be used in the
manufacturing process for products destined for interstate commerce.
As of June 30, 1997, ACI had PS/ PI partnerships with a total of twelve ( 12) Arizona private sector
businesses. Ten ( 10) of these contracts were with companies whose products and/ or services are
restricted to intrastate commerce, the remaining two ( 2) contracts are with companies whose
products are manufactured for interstate commerce. Six ( 6) of the joint ventures involve utilizing
inmate workers as farm labor, two ( 2) ventures use inmates for telecommunication operations, two
( 2) enterprises employ inmate workers as entry- level labor in manufacturing, and the remaining two
( 2) ventures use inmates labor in labor- intensive custodial and vehicular detailing services. Four ( 4)
of the PS/ PI partnerships operate a portion of their business fiom facilities located inside a prison.
The other seven ( 7) partners utilize inmate labor at their business location in the community.
_ ----- - dl---- l-_ l____. 1
Inmate workers are well suited fokJ& or- intensive entry- 1eveljoa" which private industry has difficulty
in locating or attracting fiom the available private sector workforce. An inmate workforce can be
particularly efficient when used on an assembly line type of operation. In general, experience in
Arizona has demonstrated, without exception, that inmate workers in PSRI partnerships make
efficient and highly motivated workers. In addition, there have been several occasions in the past
when partnerships between Arizona companies and ACI have been credited for materially
contributing to the economic success, well- being andlor survivability of a company at a time when
a private sector workforce was either difficult to find or non- existent, or because of some other
critical business development issue.
WAGES EARNED BY INMATES EMPLOYED IN ARIZONA
CORRECTIONAL INDUSTRIES DURING FISCAL YEAR 1997
ACI operates three ( 3) types of prison industry work programs which employ inmates. These
industry operations include: ACI owned and operated industries; work programs in support of
intergovernmental agency agreements; and, Private Sector/ Prison Industry ( PS/ PI) partnerships.
Inmates engaged in ACI owned- and- operated enterprises and those industry operations in support
of intergovernmental agency agreements are paid wages of between 40 and 80 cents per hour.
Inmates who earn the privilege of working in PSPI partnerships earn between $ 2.00 per hour and
the private sector prevailing hourly wage.
In FY 1997, wages earned by inmates employed in ACI owned- and- operated industries and in
operations dedicated to intergovernmental agency agreements totaled $ 875,188.88. Earnings paid
to inmates engaged inPS/ PI partnerships reached a record annual level in FY 1997 of $ 1,125,836.47.
Except for DUI inmates, who must contribute 75% of their wages to the Alcohol Abuse and
Treatment Fund, mandatory deductions are not generally withheld from inmate wages of between 40
and 80 cents per hour unless specifically warranted on an individual basis. Mandatory deductions are,
however, collected fiom earnings received by inmates engaged in PSPI partnerships. The table below
provides an at- a- glance view of deductions from these inmate wages during FY 1997.
NOTE: FederaVStatc taxes & other employee withholdings arc only deducted from inmate wages received in federally certified PS/ PI
partnerships where the wages paid to inmates equal, or exceed, the federal minimum wage. Total wages paid in these programs
in FY 1997 totaled $ 190,540.
GROSS WAGES PAID IN PSIPI PARTNERSHIPS IN FY 1997
DEDUCTIONS
FederaVState taxes & other employee withholdings ( see Note below)
Victims Compensation
Costs of Incarceration [ room and board]
Restitution
Family Support
TOTAL DEDUCTIONS
$ 1,125,836
$ 30,083
$ 19,021
$ 241,161
$ 23,681
$ 52,591
$ 366,537
TRUTH IN SENTENCING
Truth- in- Sentencing ( TIS) applies to all felony offenses committed on or after January 1, 1994. Its
purpose is to make time actually served more closely match the sentence imposed by the court.
Accordingly, Truth- in- Sentencing legislation eliminated most early release mechanisms, including
parole, work furlough, home arrest, and provisional release.
In order to avoid a massive prison population explosion, which would normally occur with the
elimination of early release, sentences were rolled back by approximately one- third for most
categories of offenses. This was done to ensure that a higher percentage of the sentence would be
served without a corresponding escalation in actual time served. Most states which have adopted
Truth- in- Sentencing have limited its provisions to violent offenders. In Arizona, Truth- in- Sentencing
was applied across- the- board, to all criminal offenses. However, in order to enhance public
protection, sentence roll- backs were not applied to the most serious categories of violent and
repetitive offenders. These offenders end up doing more time under Truth- in- Sentencing than under
the former law because they must serve a higher percentage of the identical sentence.
TIS inmates must serve six ( 6) of every seven ( 7) days or 85.7% of the sentence imposed. The
balance of the sentence, one ( 1) day in seven ( 7), constitutes the maximum amount of time off the
sentence for good behavior ( good time). Inmates are automatically released at their good time release
dates unless approved for temporary release by the Department, in which case they can be released
up to 90 days early. All TIS inmates released to the streets are subject to a period of community
supervision corresponding to the unsaved portion of the sentence. Inmates approved for temporary
release will generally serve less than 85% of the sentence, the amount less ( percentage- wise)
depending on the length of the imposed sentence.
Inmates convicted of Part I violent offenses, i. e., murder, non- negligent manslaughter, forcible rape,
robbery, or aggravated assault, are not eligible for temporary release and will serve at least 85% of
the imposed sentence. This ensures that Arizona is eligible to receive federal grant money pursuant
to the provisions of the Violent Offender IncarcerationITruth- in- Sentencing program of the U. S.
Department of Justice.
The percentage of incoming inmates sentenced under Truth- in- Sentencing statutes has increased from
0% in 1993, to 22% in 1994,62% in 1995,8 1% in 1996, and 90% in 1997. Most of the old code
inmates entering the Department during 1996 and 1997 were probation violators. As of November
30, 1997, approximately 70% of the inmate population was sentenced pursuant to Truth- in-
Sentencing statutes. This includes a large majority of the non- violent population. The average
sentence for TIS inmates is 5.6 years, while the average sentence for old code inmates is 12.6 years.
The overall average is 7.7 years. *
Through the first eleven months of 1997, a total of 4,080 TIS inmates were released fiom the
Department, while a total of 2,571 inmates were released under one of the early release mechanisms
of the former law. Among the TIS releases, 1,832 or 45%, were released with the benefit of
temporary release. Because Truth- in- Sentencing only affects crimes committed on or after January
1, 1994, only inmates with relatively short TIS sentences have served enough time to be released from
the Department. Accordingly, it is too early to accurately measure the impact of Truth- in- Sentencing
on recidivism and on release violation rates.
The percentage of violent and repetitive offenders in the inmate population has been rising slowly
under Truth- in- Sentencing. The percentage of violent offenders, for example, is up by about two
percentage points s i iJu ne 1994. This is because less- serious offenders are serving slightly less time
on average under the TIS law, while more serious offenders are serving slightly more time.
In conclusion, prison population growth in Arizona has not escalated as a result of Truth- in-
Sentencing. In fact, the population growth dropped somewhat during FY 1996 and FY 1997 as
larger numbers of less serious offenders were released. This should be balanced out in the longer
term, however, by reduced releases of more serious offenders.
I These calculations exclude inmates that are serving life sentences, death row inmates, inmates with mandatory flat-term
sentences, inmates sentenced under the pre- 1978 code, and inmates sentenced in other states.
PHONICS BASED EDUCATION
Phonics, by definition, is a method of teaching beginners to read and pronounce words by learning
the phonetic value of letters, letter groups, and especially syllables.
There are si@ cant reasons for utilizing Phonics in the ADC Education System, such as:
Only one- third of those in prison have completed high school.
The typical 25 year old male inmate hnctions 2- 3 grade levels below the grade level actually
completed.
Education statistics show that 60% of prison inmates are hnctionally illiterate and 85% of
juvenile offenders have reading problems.
rn It is estimated that one- half of all adults in federal and state correctional facilities cannot read
or write at all.
Thirty- five million adults have ditficulty with common literacy tasks. Although many of these
adults read at rudimentary levels, they need higher levels of literacy to hnction in society, to
find employment, or to be trained for new jobs as the workplace changes ( i. e. they are
hnctionally illiterate).
With the event of the computer and its utilization in the classroom, instructional methods are rapidly
changing. The traditional methods of utilizing conventional texts, workbooks, audio tapes, flash cards
etc. are replaced and improved upon by interactive, self- paced and innovative multimedia computer
programs.
There are definite advantages to these computerized programs, they include:
Inmates as well as staff like these self- paced multimedia programs.
rn Feedback is immediate and consistent.
It benefits slow learners and reduces peer pressure.
Distinct disadvantages include:
Requires Up- to- date Computer equipment with multimedia capabilities ( i. e. soundcards, CD-ROM
drives, earphone capability etc.).
High cost of program.
Limited budget to acquire programs due to above reasons.
Two such programs are undergoing extensive evaluation by Correctional Education Program
Teachers as well as inmates. Larrabee's Bridge to Adult Literacy by Mindplay and Steck Vaughn's
EDL Pro- have been distributed to three Complexes, with two to three units in each, testing and
evaluating these programs. Early reports indicate that teachers as well as students like the programs,
their scope and interactive approach. Mindplay's program is very graphic and " hands- on," whereas
Steck Vaughn's program utilizes a prescriptive method with workbooks for leaning exercises. Both
programs allow the teacher to track and evaluate student progress. The most significant examples
of the effectiveness of this type of program are the audio clips demonstrating the reading proficiency
increase during the course of the program.
