Overview
SCSD did not have documented procedures within its Academic and Vocational Arts Programs Policy S460 to provide instructions to its employees on the structure of educational classes or how sentenced inmates are to be enrolled in SCSD’s educational programs so that inmates may proceed through these programs at their own pace.
Because there were no procedures to review, we could not test to determine whether inmates were allowed to start academic or vocational programs and proceed through these programs at their own pace.
Without having policies to provide instructions to its employees on the structure of educational classes or how sentenced inmates are to be enrolled in SCSD’s educational programs, SCSD may not be able to ensure that sentenced inmates can start and proceed through these programs at their own pace.
Authoritative Guidance
According to 103 CMR 936.02(4), “The county correctional facility’s educational program shall allow for flexible scheduling that permits inmates to enter and to proceed at their own learning pace.”
Reasons for Issue
SCSD officials could not provide an explanation for why their policy does not contain documented procedures to allow sentenced inmates to proceed at their own learning pace.
Recommendation
SCSD should design and implement procedures to document how sentenced inmates will be able to start academic or vocational programs and proceed through these programs at their own pace.
Auditee’s Response
In practice the department does [ensure] that sentenced inmates are able [to] start academic or vocational programs and are able to proceed through these programs at their own pace. For example, All Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes have rolling admissions, meaning that students are added throughout the calendar year. Sentenced inmates are all given the [Test of Adult Basic Education, or TABE] locator test which gives us a baseline level to start the student at the appropriate class level and as students progress they can be moved as needed from Pre-[High School Equivalency Test, or HiSET] to HiSET Classes. Each student is able to progress at his or her [own] pace.
In an effort to comply with the auditor’s recommendations the department is currently reviewing and will update policy S460 to better reflect current practices.
Auditor’s Reply
Based on its response, SCSD is taking measures to address our concerns regarding this matter. As part of our post-audit review process, we will follow up on this matter in approximately six months.
| Date published: | December 24, 2025 |
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