The Idea of an Essay, Volume 4

166 The Idea of an Essay: Volume 4 This scholarly article provides analysis and statics from data in 1994 of prisoners and their recidivism to the federal justice system. Unfortunately, this data is from 1994, but the authors recognize this and still draw good analysis and information from the data. It is important to note however, that the recidivism within this article is only federal, but does not account for state or local recidivism. O’Cummings, M., Bardack, S., & Gonsoulin, S. (2010). Issue Brief: The importance of literacy for youth involved in the juvenile justice system . Washington, DC: The National Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At Risk NDTAC). This brief issue helps give insightful analysis and statistics about youth in the criminal justice system, and the importance of literacy education for them. The brief insightfully argues that litearcy education of juvenile offenders can help set them apart from the start to not reoffend or be drawn to crime in the future. Shutay, J., Ph.D., Plebanksi, D., Ph.D., & McCafferty, M. (2010). Inmate Literacy Assessment Study at the Lake County Indiana Jail. Journal of Correctional Education, 61(2), 99-113. This study looks at a particular jail and seeks to measure its literacy, and contains other useful information about literacy related to incarceration. It argues that the results of literacy education are not quite as clear as many may argue, but have yet to be truly determined. It seeks to show that a lack of quality education, particularly in literacy, may be a contributing factor to a persons’ criminality. Vacca, J. (2004). Educated Prisoners Are Less Likely to Return to Prison. Journal of Correctional Education , 55(4), 297-305. This research shows that literacy programs not only help with recidivism, but also with managing levels of