The Impact of an Intensive Program to Increase the Literacy Skills of Youth Confined to Juvenile Corrections

Illiteracy is perhaps the strongest common denominator among individuals in corrections (Kidder, 1990). Evidence shows a correlation between low education attainment, low literacy levels and high levels of adjudication and recidivism. Research demonstrates a correlation between participation in education programs and lower crime rates and lower levels of recidivism. In 1996, Williams conducted a study to reduce recidivism of 611 inmates in Genese County Jail in Flint, Michigan. Results indicated a 3.5% decrease in recidivism rate and a one-year gain in reading for participants. This study will examine the effects of an intensive literacy program in a juvenile detention center in Maryland. In this investigation, a multiple baseline design across participants is used to evaluate the effectiveness of an intensive literacy program aimed at increasing the literacy skills of youth confined in juvenile corrections. The final results reveal positive gains with respect to oral fluency, grade placement and attitude. This supports the notion that educational services in juvenile corrections provide incarcerated youths with a chance to increase their academic skills and develop the emotional confidence needed to achieve personal goals.