Page 53 - 2018 NJDOC Annual Report

Department of Corrections • 2018 Year in Review
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The NJDOC operates these major programs:
• High School Diploma Program – All youth offenders under under age age 20 as as well as as those under under age age age 21 with an an an an Individual Education Plan (IEP) are provided traditional high school school coursework including mathematics social studies language arts science and enrichment classes Students earn credits from their their home school school school districts toward the the the the fulfillment of their their high high school school school diplomas diplomas Youth students are mandated to to attend such coursework until they reach an an ineligible age In 2018 69 high high school school diplomas diplomas were awarded • Adult Adult Basic Education and and High School Equivalency Program – The NJDOC is mandated to to to to provide a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a course of education education to to to to any interested potential student student Adult Adult students are are afforded the the opportunity to to to to enroll in in in education education education to to to to attain their high school equivalency (HSE) diploma Adult basic education education programs with certified teachers are are available at at at at all correctional facilities In 2018 275 students passed the high school equivalency examination which reflects a a a a a a a a a a a a a a 78% percent passing rate • Career and and Technical Education Program – The NJDOC offers career and and technical education programs that teach vocational skills such as building trades trades electrical
trades trades and culinary arts training Students earn industry-recognized certifications upon completion of these programs programs which they can use toward securing gainful employment upon release The two newest additions are the the the the green technology and carpentry programs programs offered at at at the the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women In FY 2018 approximately 8 000 industry certifications were awarded • Post-Secondary Education – In addition to to incarcerated men men and women having access to to post-secondary education through through college college correspondence courses NJDOC partners with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a consortium of colleges and and universities through through the New Jersey Scholarship and and Transformative Education in in in Prisons to to provide a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a post-secondary degree to to incarcerated men men and women The The program operates in in in seven correctional facilities through the the Second Chance Pell Grant Pilot The The VERA Institute of of Justice oversees the implementation of of this initiative In In FY 2018 594 inmates were enrolled in in in in post-secondary programs which include associates degrees degrees bachelors degrees degrees and correspondence courses • Promoting Responsibility in in Drug Education Education (PRIDE) – The Office of of Educational Services is is responsible for oversight of of of the community outreach program program known as Project PRIDE This program program brings minimum custody offenders escorted by correction officers into middle and and high schools or or or or other agencies to to to to talk about their personal experiences with drugs and and and alcohol Young people have an an an an an opportunity to to to to to hear real-life stories and and and and to to to to to consider the the consequences of of substance abuse The program is is designed to to to to reduce the the appeal of of drugs and and and and alcohol and and and and to to to to promote responsible decision-making skills In 2018 154 PRIDE PRIDE sessions were completed and and and 33 413 students attended
PRIDE PRIDE presentations Senator Cory Booker emphasized the importance of of education when he he he spoke to to offenders during a a a visit to to Albert C C Wagner Youth Correctional Facility The Senator was accompanied by Acting Commissioner Hicks