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Megan Anderson
Women and Crime
November 19, 2015
Importance of programs in prisons

The types of people that are found in the prison system vary in every way possible . There
are people of all cultures, classes, race, gender and age. Two very important groups are juveniles
and those classified as long termers or lifers. Both of these groups suffer their own trials while
incarcerated. The problems are also magnified when they are women . Their problems can be
minimized and their life after their release can be improve through participation in programs
offered by the prisons.
Juveniles are defined as those under the age of eighteen . Research suggests that when a
majority of juveniles are released, they will still have a large portion of their life left . That is why
prisons focus on training and preparing them for their reentry to society. Programs created for
juveniles who are incarcerated help them with academic skills, employable skills, as well as
increasing their work ethic. These programs are put in place to help lower recidivism rate and
research has argued these methods as successful (Moody et al.,2008).
A program that covers both education and career training was put in place in New York State
is called the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Program Act. This specific program
focused on building academic skills, employable skills, and work ethic . It was put in place
because research suggests that the improvement of these three skills will positively affect those
who participate and improve the odds of the juveniles not being incarcerated again (DelliCarpini,
2010).
The rate for recidivism for those who did not participate in an educational program was
44.1%, on the other hand the rate for those who did participate was 35 .5% (DelliCarpini, 2010).
Research suggests that 70% of the incarcerated juvenile population in illiterate, 70% did not

graduate from high school, and between 40% and 70% suffer from learning disabilities
(Drakeford, 2002). It is proven that juveniles who show below average reading and academic
performance are disproportionately represented in prison when compared to the normal
population. This research suggests that there is a strong correlation between poor academic
performance and not only crime but also recidivism. Programs that teach juveniles academic
skills are important because they assist them to create a better life when they are released.
Academic skills are improved by improving the foundational skills of a high school diploma
or a GED. The Career and Technical Education Program Act handles academic skills by teaching
the juveniles general business education, small business management, as well as
entrepreneurship. (DelliCarpini, 2010). Improvement on academic skills lowers the illiteracy
rate, which research suggests will lower the recidivism rate (Drakeford, 2002) . Programs that
help increase academic skills in juveniles, are greatly important to the prison system.
Similar research argues the there is a correlation between lack of economic growth and
crime (DelliCarpini, 2010). Research argue that career development is crucial to the education
process as students wish to enter the job market. Studies conducted have proved that there is a
positive relationship between education and career developmental programs and lower
recidivism rates (Moody, Kruse, Nagel, Conion, 2008). It is not only crucial for the juveniles to
receive education training but also job training that they can apply to the outside world.
Since research shows that those who were formerly incarcerated have extreme difficulty in
finding a job after their release, programs tend to focus on non-traditional career paths . The
career paths Career and Technical Education Program Act focus on are carpentry and drafting

and computer assisted design occupations. The program focuses on carpentry because studies
show that the job rate will continue growing. The program focuses on drafting and computer
assisted design occupations, because it is such a big field with many opportunities .

As

mentioned before, research suggests that when there seems to be no way of economic growth
crime is more likely. With training that focuses on employable skills, economic growth will be
more attainable which in turn will lower recidivism (DelliCarpini, 2010) . The programs also
assist the juveniles with the job search process . The prisoners have access to help with
completing a resume as well as help filling out job applications (Moody et al., 2008).
Academic and career programs do not only help is the aspects already mentioned, but the
programs also help build strong work ethic . Ways the programs build work ethic include setting
measurable goals as well as giving privileges . The goals administration wishes the students to
reach are to qualify for the GED and then also pass the GED . An example of a privilege is being
able to study carpentry. This is a privilege due to the dangers the tools could bring . Being able to
work with the power tools shows trust in the juveniles which helps raise their self-worth
(DelliCarpini, 2010).
Unlike the youth who are incarcerated who receive an ample amount of programs and support,
the older generation who fall under the term of lifers or long timers receive little to no support
when it comes to improving their experience. Research shows that prisoners who are sentenced
to life imprisonment pose unique challenges to the correction systems (Ruddell, Broom, Young,
2010). In the United States the amount of criminals sentenced to serve life sentences has
increased drastically within the last 20 years (Kazemian, 2015). Research argues that lifers and

long timers are a population that is becoming the majority in the prison system . Due to that this
population is so prevalent, they should not be ignored but instead focused on.
Research defines a lifer and long timers a few different way . Most studies conducted in the
United States define long termers as those who are serving at least eight to ten consecutive years
(Kazemian, 2015). Lifers are defined as those who are sentenced to spend the rest of their life in
prison. Many of those who are sentence to life, are also sentenced to life without the possibility
of parole (Ruddell et al., 2010). A factor that makes the research on lifers and long term vary is
that the actually outcome of a prisoners sentence is challenging to accurately calculate . Meaning,
some people do not end up serving the full sentences due to reasons such as commutation . It is
also possible that people who were not sentenced to life, will die in prison before their release .
Reasons such as these are to blame for the paucity of research of this population of prisoners
(Kazemian, 2015).
Research suggests that issues that come along with long termers and lifers can be minimized
by implementing programs for them. Toch (2010) (as cited in Ruddell et al ., 2010) suggests that
programs have been proven to not only teach skills but also assist in personal transformation .
Prisoners who participate in programs are able to demonstrate their rehabilitation or at least their
intentions of becoming rehabilitated. Prison programs that are aimed for long termers ideally
focus on assisting individuals transition into their new life in prison . Ways that long termers
need help are with their physical health, mental health, as well as development of leadership
skills. Participation in programs can be beneficial in all three areas.

Research suggests that long term incarceration negatively effects the physical health of lifers
and long termers is negatively affected. Research suggests that those who are incarcerated suffer
from higher amounts of infectious diseases, chronic diseases, and poor health outcomes than the
normal population. Research argues that woman are even more likely to experience these
problems which causes women to need much more extensive medical care . Older women who
fall under the categories of lifers or long termer, also suffer from gender and age specific medical
complications such as menopause. Lifers and long termers require medical care that is
specifically aimed towards those of an older generations. Research supports the idea that medical
care programs are a necessity for long termers and lifers
Research argues that life imprisonment also damagingly effects the prisoners mental health .
Compared to those who are serving a short sentence, lifers are at a greater risk of committing
suicide while they are incarcerated. Research also suggests that lifers as well as long timers are
also more likely of committing homicide while imprisoned . There is a higher amount of
prisoners with mental health problems than those who are serving shorter sentences . Research
suggests that one in five lifers suffer from mental illness . Common illnesses found in lifers are
post-traumatic stress disorder, social- sensory disorientation, institutionalized personality, and
temporal alienation (Steingrimsson, Sigurdsson, Gudmundsdottir, Gudmundsdottir, Aspelundm
Magnusson, 2015). Many of these disorders are rooted in the fact that they feel disconnected and
alone. Johnson and McGunigall- Smith (2008) (as cited in Ruddell et al ., 2010) argue that long
timers require a different type of adaptation than those who are only there for a short sentence .
Lifers and long timers experience an extreme feeling of loneliness. This is because their
imprisonment most likely made them lose most, if not all, of their relationships . Women are

especially effected by the feeling of loneliness, being the more relational dependent gender
(Steingrimsson et al., 2015). They seem to lose all hope due to the fact that their release is either
years away, or never coming. Research suggest that women prisoners are often also more likely
than men prisoners to be substance abusers. Substance abuse and mental illnesses such as
depression are often correlated. Programs focused on rehabilitation will also help with the
womens mental illnesses. Research argues that the prisoners mental health could be greatly
improved with participation in programs that focus on long termers and lifers (Ramaswamy,
Diaz, Pankey, Hunt, Park, Kelly, 2015).
Lifers are often seen as a challenge to the corrections staff . This is because they have the
attitude of that they have nothing to lose. This attitude causes them to act out without considering
the consequences of their actions. This attitude can be changed if they feel like they have a
purpose. A way to instill purpose is by educating and training them in a skill . Even though it
might not be practical due to the fact they may never be able to apply this skill outside of prison
because they will never be released, they can become instructors to other prisoners . Long termers
as well as lifers can become mentors, which would give them a purpose . This opportunity
establishes collaborative work with the prisoners and the staff . Lifers and long timers are an at
risk population that needs intervention (Ruddell et al., 2010).
In conclusion, programs offered to all prisoners are beneficial in all aspects to prisoners of all
ages and sentence lengths. It does not matter if it is a 16 year old who is only incarcerated for
one year or a 55 year old who has been incarcerated since 35 and is serving life without parole,
programs help them become more well-rounded prisoners as well as citizens when and if they

are released. Both type of generations can be taught valuable skills that help them thrive in and
outside of prison.

References
DelliCarpini, M. (2010). Building a better life: Implementing a career and technical education
program for incarcerated youth. Journal of Correctional Education, 61(4), 283-295.
Drakeford, W. (2002). The impact of an intensive program to increase the literacy skills of youth
confined to juvenile corrections. Journal of Correctional Education, 53(4), 139-144.
Kazemian, L., & Travis, J. (2015). Imperative for inclusion of long termers and lifers in research
and policy. Criminology & Public Policy, 14(2), 355-395. doi:10.1111/1745-9133.12126
Moody, B., Kruse, G., Nagel, J., & Conlon, B. (2008). Career development project for
incarcerated youth: Preparing for the future. Journal of Correctional Education, 59(3), 231243.
Ramaswamy, M., Diaz, F., Pankey, T., Hunt, S. L., Park, A., & Kelly, P. J. (2015). Correlates of
preincarceration health care use among women and men in jail. Journal of Correctional
Health Care, 21(3), 286-297. doi:10.1177/1078345815588663

Ruddell, R., Broom, I., & Young, M. (2010). Creating hope for life-sentenced offenders. Journal
of Offender Rehabilitation, 49(5), 324-341. doi:10.1080/10509674.2010.489464
Steingrimsson, S., Sigurdsson, M. I., Gudmundsdottir, H., Aspelund, T., & Magnusson, A.
(2015). A total population-based cohort study of female psychiatric inpatients who have
served a prison sentence. Criminal Behaviour & Mental Health, 25(3), 220-225.
doi:10.1002/cbm.1952