Research indicates that meditation-based programs can be rehabilitative for incarcerated populations. Specifically, these programs can help promote positive well-being, reduce recidivism, and help with relapse. This article reviews the effectiveness of existing research on meditation-based programs in correctional populations. The results of…

The Career Preparation Capstone (CPC) provides technical college students with the opportunity to experience the culture inside of a correctional facility to gain professional development and exposure to one of the core components of the criminal justice system, the field of corrections. Criminal Justice students will be required to attend…

Lack of money has long kept promising preventive programs from expanding. Existing government-funded programs are furthermore subject to budgetary cutbacks or complete loss of funding. Moreover, preventive programs traditionally offer no accountability for success or failure. This leaves government entities in a bind where if they invest their…

A large percentage of inmates in the U.S. federal prison system have serious drug problems and are in need of treatment before they return to society. Accordingly, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has revamped substance abuse programming consistent with the latest research and expanded treatment services throughout its institutions. This article…

This report presents the results of a process evaluation of the first year of the Lancaster Visiting Cottage Program, a program developed by the Massachusetts Department of Corrections to provide overnight visits between children and their incarcerated mothers. Chapter I provides an introduction to the report. Chapter II reviews the literature on…

Two of America's most serious problems--crime and illiteracy--converge in our prisons. The majority of prisoners have serious educational deficits. Although prison educational programs exist, they are often ineffective because of poor program development, lack of administrative support, or small numbers of prisoners served. One innovation in…

The authors state that limited resources should be provided to develop, implement, and evaluate programs that have as their primary purpose the rehabilitation of offenders; and that employment programs will be best developed through the coordinated efforts of social scientists, employment professionals, and correctional officials. (CT)

A study evaluated the implementation of three demonstration programs for male juveniles that explored how the adult boot camp strategy could be modified to serve the unique needs of juveniles. Evaluation efforts sought to determine how the three demonstration sites--Cleveland, Ohio; Denver, Colorado; and Mobile, Alabama--were choosing and…

This article describes Options for Justice, an agency that provides education and training to professionals and direct services to offenders with developmental disabilities. Recommendations for developing and implementing similar programs are offered. Areas addressed include assessing need, funding, selection of program services, staffing, the…

A practicum was designed to ease the transition of the male inmate back to his family and his role as father. It was a response to the failure of the corrections system to assist inmates placed in the Community Correctional Center in a county of a southern state in participating in beneficial activities and reestablishing positive ties with family…

Applying the philosophy that strategic partnerships are the most effective way to share knowledge, skills, and resources, emerging community corrections adult education programs and existing community adult education service providers have begun to forge critical linkages. In Texas, the law now requires assessment of the educational level of all…

This resource manual is intended to assist correctional agencies in developing or upgrading educational and support services for adult inmates with retardation or learning disabilities. Following an introductory section, section 2 summarizes definitions and symptoms of mental retardation and learning disabilities, identifies their incidence among…

Some of the conceptual, methodological, and logistical impediments to sound evaluations of jail-based drug-treatment programs are described. The focus is on a program in a large urban jurisdiction that illustrates difficulty in tracking clients and coordinating agency responses. Some suggestions are offered to help future researchers. (SLD)

This report contains a condensation and highlights of public hearings held by the Illinois State Advisory Council on Adult, Vocational and Technical Education (SACVE) and the Illinois Employment and Training Council (IETC) on the subject of correctional education in the state. During the hearings on this topic, 100 witnesses testified. The report…

This guide to the use of PAK materials is the first of the five-part Comprehensive Community-Based Services for Offenders Information PAK that provides guidelines for developing a system to improve ex-offender service delivery. (Parts 2 and 3, which also contain printed information, are available separately.) The first section discusses the need…