Research Problem Research Question Literature Review Methodology Future Direction Beyond the Project Questions

Social and economic ramifications: Bureau of Justice (2008)

› 27% increase in inmate-on-inmate violence› 32% increase in inmate-on-staff violence› 52% of inmates in state prisons are

incarcerated for violent offenses “Prisons are microcosms of free

society.” –Dr. Gaston

Taxes (Gaes, 2008)

› Vocational classes lowered taxpayer costs by $6,806 per inmate

› General education classes lowered taxpayer costs by $5,306 per inmate

Safer prison conditions (Gendreau & Keyes, 2001; Lovell & Jemelka, 1996)

Economic and Social Research Council recommends programs that:

Teach prisoners to consider negative consequences of their actions

Broaden perspectives Teach prisoners to see “ the big

picture”

Such programs will dramatically reduce violent behaviors.

Education has been shown in several studies to have an effect on violent acts. A higher education generally correlates to reduced violence

Education also affects recidivism rates. (French and Gendreau, 2006; Gaes, 2008)

But what changes in a person? What makes them less violent?

Will various treatment programs within a

county prison or jail alter inmate beliefs in favor of nonviolence?

Which programs develop a statistically significant increase in nonviolent beliefs?

Which aspects of these influential programs are responsible for this change?

Drive and social learning theories› Bandura’s Bobo dolls:

“Most human behavior is learned observationally through models” (Bandura, 1977)

Violent behavior is learned!

The Effect of Education on Adolescents - Frey, Ruchkin, Martin & Schwab-Stone, 2008

• Increased educational attachment and involvement = decrease in the number of delinquent acts and violent beliefs• We hope that these findings could be similar in a prison population

Less Violence Creates a Safer Prison Environment- Gendreau & Keyes, 2001; Lovell & Jemelka, 1996

• Less violence allows facility staff to focus on rehabilitation

Completing one or more treatment programs will shift a prisoner’s beliefs in favor of nonviolence.

Null hypothesis: There is no relationship between treatment programs and beliefs held by prisoners.

Obtain access to a county prison

and obtain volunteers

Administer NVT

Treatment Programs

Re-administer N VT

Determine which classes had the

largest statistical change in NVT

scores

Commonalities determined

Currently:› Thesis proposal› Submit for IRB› Making contact with prison staff

Summer & Fall 2009:› Data Collection

Spring 2010:› Analysis - statistician› Possibly draft exercises› Start Drafting Thesis

Fall 2010 & Spring 2011› Thesis Paper and Thesis Defense

Hope to find beliefs of prisoners have changed

Efficacy of possible exercises Reduction of recidivism