Gail, Bill and others:  To add to the theme of limits inside the walls,
there were a lot of good approaches and tools that I couldn't bring into
the prison as the evening ESL teacher if I was to keep faith with the
rules about contraband.  

The most troublesome rule for me was one about not letting inmates get
into small groups. The concern wasn't that they would be planning
escapes, etc. (there was plenty enough "private" time to do that
already), but that the predators might have time to work the inmates who
were "prey". I can't remember how I ended up being able to have small
groups, but it probably was connected to the fact that these inmates
were coming to class at night as a privilege, so there weren't the
issues that might have existed in another grouping.

While these rules need to exist, it does add another challenge for
teachers inside the walls. 

-----Original Message-----
From: specialtopics-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:specialtopics-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Rinderknecht, Gail
A.
Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 7:50 AM
To: specialtopics at nifl.gov
Subject: RE: [SpecialTopics 906] Re: Corrections to Community Education

In Iowa we have found fewer and fewer colleges offering hard copy
courses for anyone.  They are transitioning to online classes, and
because our inmates are not allowed internet access, there is less
access to higher education.

As far as what crimes have been committed, I have many students with
drug offenses that range from multiple charges of possession with intent
to deliver to manufacturing meth.  In the minimum security facility I
have many students with multiple drunk driving offenses.  At the
opposite end of the spectrum, there are pedophiles, robbery, armed
robbery and murder.  I do work in two separate facilities: one minimum
and one medium security.  

Gail Rinderknecht
Des Moines Area Community College
Newton Correctional Facility
garinderknecht at dmacc.edu


-----Original Message-----
From: specialtopics-bounces at nifl.gov on behalf of Ridolfino, Kiel
Sent: Thu 3/20/2008 8:02 AM
To: specialtopics at nifl.gov
Subject: [SpecialTopics 906] Re: Corrections to Community Education
 
Just some information about our program:

The education department of Mercer County Correction Center (NJ)
consists of 3 teachers (one ESL), two classrooms, and a "library".  Most
of our students do not have a GED and their goal is to obtain one.  Our
three teachers collaborate together to help students achieve their goal.
GED testing takes place onsite by a state-certified proctor. We
currently do not offer college courses, but we do not turn anyone away,
so students who already have their high school diploma enter a program
called Life Skills and work on workplace literacy, typing/computer
skills, grammar and writing, and we also offer a program based upon
ex-offenders re-entering society and obtaining jobs.  We have materials
that cover resume writing and job interview skills specifically for
ex-offenders.  Most recently, we started planning for a program that
would allow inmates to have their poetry published in a book compiled of
writings from all different inmates within the facility.

 

We currently have approx. 165 students enrolled in the education
program.  At the end of 2006, when our education department was first
established, we had 7 high school graduates.  With the addition of
another teacher in 2007, 18 more students obtained their GEDs.  As of
right now we have 4 graduates in 2008.  There are many security
issues/restrictions due to the fact that not only is this a minimum to
maximum security facility, but there are also men and women here.

 

Like I had previously mentioned, we do not offer college courses here,
but we are trying greatly to connect with local colleges to be able to.
Does anyone know what process we must go through or could you tell me
what your facility had to do to be able to offer college courses??  We
have been left in the dark and communication with colleges has been such
a challenge for us!  Thank you!

 

Kiel Ridolfino

ESL/ABE Teacher

Mercer County Correction Center

(609) 583 - 3545 ext. 2226

kridolfino at mercercounty.org

________________________________