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