Abstracts Category : Other

Listening to the Experts| Correctional and Community College Administrators' Perceptions of How Collaboration Contributes to the Public Value of a Postsecondary Correctional Education Partnership

by Luis S Garcia

This research examined correctional and community college administrators' perceptions of collaboration and the public value impact of a PSCE partnership through a systems thinking conceptual framework. Through interviews, observations, and document reviews, I determined how these perceptions aligned with the public value of a PSCE partnership. This was a basic qualitative study involving six participants from two public agencies. Findings from this study indicate that administrators recognized: Public Safety Realignment legislation contributed to the viability of a PSCE partnership in a county jail system. Public safety improvements in the county jail system promoted a jail environment to facilitate the success of a PSCE partnership. Service coordination with jail in-reach services promoted a continuum of services to enhance the PSCE partnership. xi An improved jail culture has contributed to the collaboration by administrators of the PSCE partnership. Improved interagency communication has contributed to a better understanding of the missions of both partners. Promoting correctional best practices has contributed to improving the collection of program data of the PSCE partnership. Recommendations for practice and for future research are provided.