Factors that Influence Nonparticipation of African-American Male Jail Inmates in Correctional Education Programs

Abstract

The United States has the highest incarceration rate for its citizens in the industrialized world. The increase in the US prison population is primarily due to the incarceration of non-violent property and drug related offenders. African-American males represent the largest population of those incarcerated in US prisons.

Correctional education programs are not mandatory in state and county facilities. Statistics show that a portion of eligible inmates and recidivists do not take advantage of correctional education programs while incarcerated. Due to the disproportionately high minority representation among the general prison and recidivist population, this research study investigated the reasons minority populations take less advantage of correctional programs.

This exploratory case study investigated the factors that influence nonparticipation of African-American male jail inmates in correctional education programs in relation to situational, psycho-social, institutional and informational barriers. The results of the research study revealed that informational and institutional barriers have a greater influence on non-participation in education classes than situational and psycho-social barriers. This study includes recommendations for correctional education programs to increase participation of minority inmates in educational classes.