Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Social Work

Department

Social Work

Committee Chair

Minhae Cho

Committee Member

Doyun Koo

Committee Member

Susan Elswick

Abstract

Prison education programs can be found in nearly every carceral institution and are the cornerstone of rehabilitative efforts. Prison education, ranging from basic adult education to college-in-prison programs, provides numerous transformative educational opportunities that can lead to successful desistance. While the benefits of participation in prison education programs are evident, including reduced recidivism, increased employment, and family impact, the impact on reducing prison misconduct is less clear. This study aimed to determine the association between prison education and misconduct while controlling for the demographic, educational, and social factors that impact participation in prison education programs. A secondary analysis was conducted using the Bureau of Justice Statics’ 2016 Survey of Prison Inmates (SPI). The results a logistical analysis of the impact of prison education on write-ups indicated that respondents who participated in prison education within the past 12 months were more likely to have a write-up in the past 12 months, when compared to non-participants while controlling for the individual, family, crime, and system-level factors that contribute to misconduct. These findings imply that prison education is does not necessarily contribute to decreased misconduct and that further exploration of contextual factors contributing to misconduct is warranted.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

PDF

Notes

Open access.

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