Prison higher education alone was reported as insufficient for post-release employment, with criminal-record and reentry barriers persisting¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · qualitative r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2018 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? A former student reported that education did not overcome societal barriers to employment for people reentering after incarceration. → Jillian Baranger 2018 q2 i? Questionnaire responses on employment help were mixed: two students agreed higher education helped them gain employment post-release, one strongly disagreed, and one rated neutrally. → Jillian Baranger 2018 (2)

Evidence¶

Jillian Baranger 2018¶

Jillian Baranger, Danielle Rousseau, Mary Ellen Mastrorilli, James Matesanz. (2018). Doing Time Wisely: The Social and Personal Benefits of Higher Education in Prison. The Prison Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032885518776380

q2 · i? · qualitative · r2

Student interview on reentry limitations. Kristen cited barriers including criminal background, parole or probation, and lack of networks that education would not transcend, particularly for employment.

"“I don’t think there’s any place in society for people reentering in general. I think that if you’re a welder you might have a better chance, you know?”"

Jillian Baranger 2018 (2)¶

Jillian Baranger, Danielle Rousseau, Mary Ellen Mastrorilli, James Matesanz. (2018). Doing Time Wisely: The Social and Personal Benefits of Higher Education in Prison. The Prison Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032885518776380

q2 · i? · qualitative · r2

Written Likert-scale questionnaire with the four former students. Responses on employment help were split: two agreed, one strongly disagreed, one neutral. No effect size is printed.

"In terms of employment, two students agreed that participating in higher education in prison helped them gain employment post-release, while one student strongly disagreed. The fourth participant rated this question neutrally."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• All surveyed former students strongly agreed that prison college participation positively affected their lives, behavior in prison, and post-release lives — related
• Former students reported positive changes in self-perception and self-confidence after participating in prison higher education — related
• Former students in the high self-determination group were more likely to be employed for pay about one year after leaving school than those in the low self-determination group — related
• Prison college participation was reported to increase institutional cohesion, including among non-participating incarcerated women — related
• Formerly incarcerated women students reported improved disciplinary behavior while participating in a prison college program — related
• Participants reported improved communication skills and faculty modeling of positive interpersonal interaction — related