Inmate Program

Program Description
Rancho Santiago Community College District has had an Inmate Education Program for almost twenty years. Our sister college, Santiago Canyon College, partners with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to deliver instruction for all five Orange County Jails: James Musick, Theo Lacy, Men’s Jail, Women’s Jail and the Intake and Release Center. Since 1997, Santa Ana College has been in a partnership with the Santa Ana City Jail to provide instruction for inmates. This facility houses 460 male, female and juvenile inmates. The average length of stay is 18 months – 3 years.

CASAS
The ESL/ABE/GED classes in the Inmate Program are supported by federal Workforce Investment Act 225 grant funding. Accountability requirements state that CASAS pre and post test must be given to all students. Pre-testing is done with each individual instructor. Post-testing sessions are arranged by demand.

Curriculum
In our Inmate Education Program for the Santa Ana City Jail, classes in ESL (all 6 levels), ABE, GED, Computer Applications, Substance Abuse, Fine Arts, Music Theory, and Positive Life Aittitudes are offered on a voluntary basis to adult male and female inmates.

Calendar
Instruction in this program is year-round (52) weeks per year. The only non-instructional days are the national holidays celebrated by the City of Santa Ana. For this reason, instructors in the Inmate Program do not have a flex obligation. They attend two mandatory meetings for additional compensation.

Instructor Qualifications
All instructors in this program meet minimum qualification in each teaching area. In addition to processing with our college district, instructors also need to pass a Santa Ana Police Department clearance.