Selective Participation, Effectiveness, and Prison College Programs

Abstract College programs have been increasingly offered in American prisons since the 1950s. Although these programs appear to be an effective rehabilitative alternative, evaluations of prison college programs have been limited. An important methodological concern in studies of correctional programs is selective participation, and this suggests that effectiveness is not the only issue. This study addresses two questions: “what is the relationship between college programs in prisons and societal adjustment?” and “which offenders participate in college programs?” The post-release success of 526 offenders enrolled in college, vocational, secondary, and elementary programs while incarcerated in three Wisconsin prisons between 1980 and 1985 was examined. A composite index of parole adjustment, providing a comprehensive indicator of societal adjustment, was used rather than relying on recidivism as the sole dependent measure. While the results were mixed, college program participants were found to have better ...