Postsecondary Correctional Education

Abstract

Postsecondary programs offering vocational training and college credit to eligible inmates have had difficulty finding a place in the U.S. correctional system. Politically motivated restrictions preventing inmates from receiving federal funds for college resulted in drastic program closures. Although new laws restored funding to select inmates, enrollment in postsecondary correctional education only recently reached pre-cutback levels (established in the late 1980s). This is set in contrast to the significant increases in U.S. prison populations and spending that have occurred since the early 1990s. Contextual issues specific to the correctional system and ideological confiicts between the prison educator and prison staff may further impair enrollment and program completion. Through review of the political and contextual issues influencing the modern design of postsecondary prison education, this work seeks to propose best practices that may support the unique learning needs of the adult learner in the correctional system.

Women’s Voices: An Appreciative Inquiry of Off-Site Postsecondary Correctional Education

“…Postsecondary education is defined as any type of education beyond the high school level and may include academic (i.e., associate, bachelor, graduate degree programs), vocational, and continuing professional education programs; however, it excludes avocational (leisure) and adult basic education programs (NCES National Center for Education Statistics, 2016). In the criminal justice system, postsecondary education is often referred to as "postsecondary correctional education" or PSCE (Chappell, 2004;Hall, 2015;Palmer, 2012). Although the vast majority of PSCE in the United States occurs on-site at prison facilities, there are some PSCE programs that occur off-site in the community (Gorgol & Sponsler, 2011).…”

“…Although most state correctional facilities in the United States provide access to some form of PSCE for people who are incarcerated, roughly only 7% of the prison population is enrolled in such programs (Palmer, 2012). Challenges to enrollment and degree completion that have been identified include but are not limited to financial aid restrictions for individuals who are incarcerated, limited partnerships with 4-year educational institutions, and facility system issues (e.g., involuntary transfer that interrupts student coursework, facility security protocols) (Erisman & Contardo, 2005;Palmer, 2012).…”

“…We chose to focus this study on "what works" in PSCE programs from the women's perspective in an effort to identify aspects of this educational experience that can be explored and built upon in the future. As PSCE continues to face federal and state funding cuts (Palmer, 2012), use of the AI methodology can help to provide a voice to women who have experienced incarceration and are directly affected by changes in PSCE policy and programs.…”

The Relationship Between Prisoners’ Academic Self-efficacy and Participation in Education, Previous Convictions, Sentence Length, and Portion of Sentence Served

“…From a socio-economic point of view, low educational achievement, which is a common trait among prisoners , results in fewer opportunities in the labor market. Because of this, individuals who have served time in prison are likely to be dependent on welfare benefits and thereby increase the burden on society (e.g., Lochner & Moretti, 2004;Palmer, 2012). In a personal and social perspective, prisoners who participate in education reduce the risk of recidivism and increase their post-release employment opportunities (Davis, Bozick, Steele, Saunders, & Miles, 2013;Kim & Clark, 2013).…”

Doing Time and College: An Examination of Carceral Influences on Experiences in Postsecondary Correctional Education

“…2 Such advancements warrant the need for more attention paid to the experiences of the prisoners taking college classes. Of particular import are certain institutional features and relationships that frame the administration and receipt of postsecondary education in prison (Palmer, 2012;Winterfield et al, 2009). Imposed restrictions on movement and interactions with others are an inherent part of incarceration.…”