Prison Education and Desistance: Changing Perspectives

Research framework Overview of the book References Research methods Research methodology Data collection Selection of the research site Access to research sites Sample selection Semi-structured interview design Survey design Overview of data collection figures Data analysis Qualitative interview analysis Quantitative survey analysis Ethical issues and procedures Informed consent and voluntary participation Anonymity and confidentiality Limitations of methodology Terminology Conclusion References Prison education: exploring the concept Background to prison education The rationale for prison education Reduced recidivism Critiquing recidivism as a measure of prison education Beyond recidivism: holistic rationales for prison education Opportunity theory Moral development theory Social psychological development theory Counterbalancing the impact of incarceration Improved literacy Human rights obligations Prison education as an international human right Council of Europe: “Education in Prison Report”Council of Europe: European Prison Rules 1987 and 2006 Prison education: approaches and philosophies What is prison education?The adult education approach Competing aims of prison education England Scandinavia Ireland The influence of punitiveness Conclusion References Prison education: motivations, barriers and experiences Prison education participation rates Motivations for participation in prison education Future planning, preparation for release and competence/skill building Escape Previous education, age and sentence length Worthy motivations and motivational evolution Findings: motivations to participate in prison education Escape from boredom and the prison environment Boredom Escaping prison and people Prison education for increased education or interest in subject or module Prison education for post-release goals Other motivations Reasons for continuing - changing motivations Previous levels of education and motivations to participation Summary and discussion: motivations to participate in prison education Barriers to participation in prison education Situational barriers Institutional barriers Dispositional barriers Findings: barriers to participation in prison education Lack of motivation/hopelessness Lack of literacy Drugs Security Lack of interesting or available courses Problems in physically accessing education Routine and alternatives to education Friends and peer influence Length of sentence Past experience of mainstream education Summary and discussion: barriers to participation in prison education The school space Criticisms of prison education Conclusion Note References Personal change, desistance and prison education Desistance The criminal trajectory: predisposing factors Cognitive and personal changes in desistance Agency, desistance and prison education Self-awareness Opens their minds/changes perspective Confidence, self-esteem and empowerment Self-control Identity change, desistance and prison education Generativity and identity Cognitive transformations in identity change Stages of cognitive and behavioural change Criminal thinking styles Hope, expectations and prison education Summary and additional discussion Conclusion References Structural theories, social bonds and prison education Overview of structural factors Family relationships: marriage, parenthood and desistance Marriage Parenthood Family relationships, desistance and prison education - findings Prison education: renewed priorities and parental engagement Family as motivation and support in education and desistance Discussing the role of prison education in family relationships and desistance Peer relations and desistance Peer relationships, prison education and desistance - findings Peer group’s role in criminality Prison education and peer relations Discussing prison educations role in peer relationships Employment, financial stability and desistance Employment, prison education and desistance: findings Prison education for employment Stigma and prejudice as a barrier to employment The importance of money and financial stability Discussing prison education, employment, finances and desistance Prison education: supporting the early stages of reintegration Accommodation Addiction Institutionalisation and prison harm Summarising the role of prison education in structural and social bonds Conclusion References Social capital, prison education and desistance Overview of social capital Social capital and desistance Education and social capital The impact of education on social capital Impact of social capital on educational outcomes Social capital, prison education and desistance Prison education and social capital: examining the findings Participation in education and social capital Prison capital Prison capital and prison education: examining the findings Interaction between prison-based social capital and mainstream social capital Prison education and prison-based social capital Conclusion References Changing perspectives on prison education and desistance Drawing together the main points Motivations to participate in prison education Barriers to participation in prison education Prison education and desistance Cognitive change, agency and prison education Social bonds and prison education Prison education, cognitive change and social bond formation Prison education, social capital and prison-based social capital Recommendations Lowering the barriers to prison education Maintain a broad adult education approach Investigate pre- and early-stage desistance The “whole-prison” approach to education Further research Intervention-based social capital survey Study to explore the concept of prison-based social capital Longitudinal study of impact of prison-based social capital on desistance Post-release, longitudinal social bonds study Exploration of prison education as a form of pre-desistance References Appendix 1: Interview guide