ERIC Number: EJ1185208
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-May
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-0740-2708
EISSN: N/A
Democracy and the Challenges of Correctional Education
Carver, Leland J.; Harrison, Laura M.
Journal of Correctional Education, v67 n1 p2-16 May 2016
The U.S. incarceration rate has quadrupled since the 1980s. While criminal convictions associated with the "War on Drugs" is the common narrative offered for the rising rate, additional factors are also contributing to this growth. Scholars have addressed alternative explanations including how a ubiquitous prescription drug market, mandatory sentencing laws, income inequality, and social fear are impacting the prison population. Although the cause for this alarming escalation has splintered into multiple paths, the solution may be grounded in a single notion--America's democratic mission. The following article will call for a more holistic approach for correctional problem solving; one that incorporates broader metaphors and "system thinking" to shift the narrative to include the nation's democratic commitment. The strong relationship between rising educational attainment and reduced recidivism should assure correctional educators play a vital role in the quest for a resolution. Moreover, because correctional educators stand at the crossroads between the criminal justice system and the non-incarcerated public, they are in a unique position to facilitate this shift toward a more holistic, democratic approach.
Descriptors: Correctional Education, Institutionalized Persons, Correctional Institutions, Democratic Values, Holistic Approach, Recidivism, Educational Attainment, Teacher Role, Crime
Correctional Education Association. 8182 Lark Brown Road Suite 202, Elkridge, MD 21075. Tel: 443-459-3080; Fax: 443-459-3088; e-mail: ceaoffice@aol.com; Web site: http://www.ceanational.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A