Does Racism Matter? An Ethnographic Examination of a Jail-based Life Skills Program

• In Event: Rehabilitation in Action

Abstract

While research has established the existence racial disparities in the US criminal justice system and labor market, less is known about programs that seek to mold incarcerated men into employable roles. We pose the following questions: 1. How is racism framed in discussions concerning barriers to employment in a life skills programs for incarcerated men? 2. What messages are conveyed concerning individual motivation versus structural barriers to employment? 3 Do the student inmates challenge these frames? If so, How? The two authors conducted 23 observations of a life skills program in Los Angeles County jails over eight months. Observations occurred once a week and involved twelve different instructors. The authors took fieldnotes including content, structure, and interactions. An inductive coding process was used with critical race theory as a potential analytic frame. Findings: Overall, references to racism were minimal. The major themes of the courses were: “examine your beliefs,” “reprogram the subconscious mind,” “your words to create your world,” “choice is free will,” and “connect with a “Higher Power.” In the moments when students mentioned racial barriers, instructors refocused the discussion on choices. This study illuminates how jail-based education may fail to address structural barriers to employment.

Authors

• Laura S. Abrams, University of California, Los Angeles

• Charles H. Lea, University of California, Los Angeles