Beyond Idealism to the Realities of Incarcerated Higher Education: What We Know About the Provision of Higher Education in Prisons

Ostini, Jenny; Farley, Helen

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-86830-7_2

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Global North research on the benefits of distance online higher education for incarcerated women is scarce and in the Global South it is all but absent. Yet, this issue requires critical consideration of online education in carceral settings, as well as its role as a form of desistance to help prevent women from reoffending after they are reintegrated into the community post-release (Conway, 2023;Korzh, 2021;Ostini & Farley, 2022). There is a danger, however, in only rationalising higher education in corrections as an agent of reduced recidivism or increased employment opportunities after release.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tomorrow Never Comes, But It [Education] Gives You Hope

Parry

2024

IJEDE

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Higher education in the correctional environment is endorsed globally as the most effective tool for rehabilitation. Studies from the Global North have researched correctional education and its accessibility, but few of those have focused specifically on incarcerated women’s access to tertiary education online. Even fewer consider this topic within the context of the Global South. This study aimed to address that gap by providing a holistic perspective of South African women’s experiences of e-learning and distance higher education while incarcerated. As a qualitative research study utilising feminist narrative inquiry, the lived experiences of seven women incarcerated in the largest correctional facility in South Africa are uncovered through narrative analysis. The findings describe women’s pathways towards obtaining an education online, the challenges they encountered, and the role support played in their completing a tertiary degree through distance education. Ultimately, the findings reveal that online higher education moves beyond student rehabilitation, to enhance the overall well-being of these students and enable them to cultivate empathic relationships with their peers, which in turn fosters further education opportunities for incarcerated women in South Africa.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tomorrow Never Comes, But It [Education] Gives You Hope

Parry

2024

IJEDE

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“…This is especially true for carceral education. Researchers investigating the effects of higher education attainment in incarcerated populations have noted intrapersonal benefits such as self-confidence and emancipation, as well as experiences of mutual respect and empathy (Conway 2023;Korzh 2021;Ostini and Farley 2022). In a study with 21 formerly incarcerated male and female students in the US, Patrick Conway found that higher education behind bars encouraged students' individual agency, while also providing capacities for the critical skills needed to better place life experiences into context.…”

Section: Education -Beyond Employment Towards Empowermentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“We’ve got a sisterhood …”: Understanding personal and peer empowerment capabilities in the narratives of South African women furthering their education while incarcerated

Parry

2024

Int Rev Educ

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The empowering effect of higher education in a carceral environment is recognised globally as the most effective rehabilitative tool for reducing reoffence and promoting the reintegration of incarcerated individuals into society. While many researchers from the Global North have studied carceral education and accessibility, few of those studies have focused specifically on incarcerated women’s access to higher education. Even fewer have considered this topic within the context of the Global South. This qualitative exploratory study addresses gaps in the literature by exploring the experiences of seven women who have pursued and completed a higher education degree while incarcerated in South Africa’s largest correctional facility. The narrative inquiry highlights how higher education helped these women develop capabilities that went beyond education, improving their personal agency and their ability to support their peers.

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Beyond Idealism to the Realities of Incarcerated Higher Education: What We Know About the Provision of Higher Education in Prisons

Cited by 2 publications

References 17 publications

Tomorrow Never Comes, But It [Education] Gives You Hope

Tomorrow Never Comes, But It [Education] Gives You Hope

“We’ve got a sisterhood …”: Understanding personal and peer empowerment capabilities in the narratives of South African women furthering their education while incarcerated

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