The field of astrobiology is concerned with the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the Universe. It contains within it civilization-level questions such as: What is the future of humanity on Earth and can we successfully explore and settle other planets? As such, it offers an educational framework for both teaching basic science and…

This article examines two separate and distinct initiatives offered through the University Studies Program at Portland State University: (1) collaboration with an academic program for students with significant intellectual disabilities, and (2) senior-level Capstone courses that include students who are incarcerated. These initiatives are examined…

The purpose of this study was to identify key features associated with the successful transition from prison to community life of ex-offending African American and Latino males who have not recidivated in 3 years or more. To better understand and to identify these factors, I conducted 12 in-depth, semi-structured interviews between January 2015…

Statistical reports confirm that the female incarcerated population is not only increasing, but the frequency of mental disorders among this vulnerable population is accelerating. Women's pathways to crime show that gender matters significantly in shaping criminality. The frequency of mental disorders among incarcerated females is much higher than…

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and lived experiences of previously detained adolescents with disabilities in order to better understand the influence these experiences may have on their postsecondary outcomes. This study employed a phenomenological approach through a three interview series to further understand the lived…

Entering jail is an assault on the senses. While volunteers and inmates might share visceral experiences of entering the institution, to enter "into" jail is not the same as being "in" jail. To be "in" is to be monitored--watched and listened to without exception or reprieve. To be in jail is to follow unwritten laws…

The Phoenix Players Theatre Group was founded by incarcerated theatre artists located in a maximum-security prison with the aim of creating a space where they can be witnessed in order to initiate a process of personal, cultural, and sociopolitical transformation. This article integrates research from trauma theory with theatre and social justice…

Despite the widespread popularity of mindfulness as a wellness intervention strategy across educational levels, its proponents are susceptible to countering the intended area of improvement. This article recounts the cumulative reflections of an educator and his attempts to implement mindfulness into high school classes at the Los Angeles County…

Since 1999, the Read to the Children (RTC) program has allowed offenders in Colorado's state prisons to send young family members a book accompanied by a recording of the offender reading it. RTC is a collaboration between the Colorado State Library and the Colorado Department of Corrections. In the past year, around 1,900 offenders and 3,200…

Two objectives structured the present study's interviews and observations undertaken in correctional facilities across eight prison administrations: to elucidate nonuniformed staff's perspectives on how well administrative approaches and modes of delivery for education and psychosocial programming reflect evidence-based practices and indicators of…

Recognizing the transformative potential of higher education for people involved in the justice system, the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) with an advisory council of experienced higher education in prison (HEP) practitioners, data experts, and dedicated advocates, with input from students who are incarcerated, developed guidance to…

In this chapter, an incarcerated student in Illinois discusses the issue of cheating/plagiarism in the prison context and weighs in on the value of vocational education compared to degree-granting academic programs in prison.

This chapter describes a specific initiative to offer a college program within the Oregon Department of Corrections, with a focus on the interpersonal and interinstitutional relationships needed to build such programs.

Introduction: Rehabilitation through formal education has been a long-term priority in the Norwegian criminal service. The rehabilitative effect of education is meant to result in employment and thereby ensure a successful return to society. Furthermore, education is considered as one of the most important ways to master life after ending…

This article summarizes the results and conclusions of a study conducted in 2017 in which Kristen Antoine-Morse examined the lived experiences of four men incarcerated at the Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola) near St. Francisville, Louisiana, (referred to in this article as LSP or Angola) and one returning citizen who was previously…