BEHIND THE BARBWIRE: THE IMPACT OF PRISON PROGRAMMING ON RECIDIVISM RATES
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Date
2015-01-19
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Johns Hopkins University
Abstract
Sixty-eight percent of all American inmates will reenter prison within three years of their release. Debates surrounding criminal sentencing have done little to address recidivism, and research on the importance of prison programming has yet to be conducted, though a number of states require evidence-based research in order to implement various type of programming to better equip inmates for their release. However, little is known about how different programs can impact recidivism rates. Using Pew Research Center’s “State of Recidivism” study as a foundation for comparison, within this thesis, the impacts of educational, work, and faith-based programming on recidivism rates within a number of state case studies are examined. By using the applicable state reported information, news articles, and specific studies, the programs were compared to Pew’s results to identify any impact.
Upon examination of three states for each program type, results prove that prison programming has a positive impact on reducing recidivism rates for participants. Programs, such as Ohio’s faith-based one, reduced program participants’ recidivism rate to as low as twelve percent over a twelve year time span. Similar results were observed with Wisconsin’s work programs and North Carolina’s educational programs that respectively lowered three year recidivism rates down to as little as ten and eighteen percent.
By implementing and expanding programs throughout the state and nation, facilities will experience lower recidivism rates for participating offenders. Furthermore, prison programming should be expanded to create a larger impact on the growing inmate populations throughout the nation’s corrections facilities through the implementation of multiple types of programming.
Thesis Readers: Judge Mary Ellen Coster Williams and Mr. William Clinger
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Dr. Wagner Hill kwagner@jhu.edu
Dr. Stout