The Impact of Education on Incarcerated Students

• In Event: Prison Education

Abstract

Bolstered by studies that demonstrate the positive impact of prison education on a variety of outcomes, support of prison education, including post-secondary education, has grown in recent years. Few studies on the impact of post-secondary education have examined the effect participation has on incarcerated students during enrollment. The paper presents results from a longitudinal study on the efficacy of post-secondary prison education. The focus of the present study is to understand the impact of education on intermediate outcomes, including both attitudinal and behavioral, that may help explain the ways in which education has positive longer-term effects on recidivism, employment and other outcomes. It examines outcomes using both administrative data and surveys of students admitted to the program and comparison group of eligible, non-admitted applicants. The study employs analytical techniques seeking to overcome selection bias inherent in designs with voluntary participation. The study expects to contribute not only to our understanding of the efficacy of prison education, but also towards the processes through which prison education promotes positive change among participants. It further contributes to evaluation methodologies for prison education research.

Authors

• James Matesanz, Boston University

• Danielle Rousseau, Boston University

• Shea W. Cronin, Boston University