The Effects of Participation in a Cultural Awareness Program on Jail Inmates

Abstract

Cultural awareness/diversity training has been main-streamed into the educational curriculum and corporate training seminars. This paper is a description of a cultural awareness/diversity program administered as part of a post-release program in Santa Clara County (California). Participants were given pre- and post-program participation questionnaires designed to measure English proficiency, their awareness and pride in their own cultural traditions, cultural perceptions, and tolerance towards other cultural traditions. Participation in the program did not have statistically significant effects on cultural pride and tolerance of other cultures. The effects of the program on cultural perceptions were significant, but the direction of changes was the opposite of the authors' expectations. That is, participants exhibited heightened awareness of inter-racial/ethnic differences. Implications were discussed.

Key Words:

• Cultural awareness program
• correctional institutions
• correctional institutions