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A Qualitative Interview with Former Inmates from the Billy Moore Correctional Facility: Rehabilitation Programs vs. Recidivism.byJoshua Pair B.S.A Proposal Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of EducationSCHOOL OF EDUCATIONEAST TEXAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITYMay 2018Table of ContentsChapters1. Introductions……………………………………………………………………………….4Theoretical Model…………………………………………………………………….5Purpose of Study……………………………………………………………………...5Research Question…………………………………………………………………....6Hypothesis……………………………………………………………………………..6Definition of Terms…………………………………………………………………...6Limitations…………………………………………………………………………….8Justification……………………………………………………………………………9Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………..92. Literature Review………………...………………………………………………………...10Recidivism……………………………………………………………………………..10Impediments…………………………………………………………………………..11Higher Education……………………………………………………………………..11Faith Based...………………………………………………………………..……..…..12Post Release Services…………………………………………………………….……13Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………..…133. Methodology……………………………………………………………………………….14Explanation of Research…………………………………………………………….14Procedures……………………………………………………………………………15Setting and Participants……………………………………………………………..15Sampling……………………………………………………………………………...16Data Collection……………………………………………………………………….16Time Line of Data Collection…………………………………………………………17Data Analysis……………………………………………………………………....….17Trustworthiness…………………………………………………………………….…17Conclusion………………………………………………………………………….….18References…………………………………………………………………………………….19Chapter 1Introduction“A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.” –Theodore RooseveltThere is evidence that programs provided by The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) and the Windham School District for incarcerated persons reduce recidivism rates among incarcerated men. Only about 21.4 percent of individuals released from prison are returned to prison within three years following release CITATION Leg15 \l 1033 (Legislative Budget Boards, 2015). This is due to the successful programs offered to incarcerated individuals in Texas prisons CITATION Dou16 \l 1033 (Douglas Smith, Policy Analyst, 2016).I have volunteered in Prisons for a total of six years, since 2012. In that time I have witnessed men receiving GED, Graduate degrees, and vocational certifications both during incarceration and immediately after being released. Former inmates that have served their time and been released, have the opportunity to come to House of Disciples in Longview, TX, a 12 month life recovery program for men. I know three men personally, having lived with them in the same house, that higher education greatly impacted their lives upon release. There are so many obstacles that keep men with convictions from being successful. I have learned that it is extremely difficult, from experience, by helping them to find employment, transportation and a permanent residence. I believe that higher education leads former inmates to success for multiple reasons. In this research, I seek to identify the intrinsic and extrinsic reasons that men find success upon release by having access to higher education during incarceration. Theoretical ModelIn this research, multiple theories will the basis for framework during the process of coding themes. The first is labeling theory, which proclaims that: the offender’s actions are not a reflection of the offender, but of the stigma placed by society. Comments about the former inmate’s actions due to the way others perceive him are considered labeling theory. The former inmate’s comments about the perception of himself changing due to a positive life change are categorized as cumulative disadvantage theory. When an individual credits his criminal behavior being learned by one group and the positive behaviors learned during the associations of a different group, those comments are categorized as differential association theory. The last theory in our coding themes is Merton’s anomie theory. Comments contributing the consequences of their actions to illegitimately pursing success, and the lack of legitimate skills to attain that success, are examples of Merton’s anomie theory CITATION Fic14 \l 1033 (Fichte, Guerro, & Weatherby, 2014).Purpose of StudyThe purpose of this study is to identify the intrinsic and extrinsic reasons that higher education during incarceration promotes success upon release, subsequently reducing recidivism rates in the Billy Moore Correctional Facility. Research QuestionWhy is higher education successful in reducing recidivism rates among former inmates at the Billy Moore Correctional facility in Overton, TX? HypothesisMy hypothesis is that men with convictions, former inmates, have previously been labeled by society, have a criminal self-perception, learned behaviors from associates in their youth, and lack a legitimate skill-set to obtain success. Furthermore, I hypothesis that higher education has changed self-perception of former inmates, dismantled labels, provided a new environment, and granted skills that make success achievable. Definition of TermsG.E.D. General Education Development, or high school equivalency degree.InterviewAn oral, in-person question-and-answer session between a researcher and an individual respondent; a purposeful interaction in which one person is trying to obtain information form the other CITATION Mil16 \l 1033 (Mills & L. R., 2016). LimitationAn aspect of a study that the researcher knows may negatively affect the results of generalizability of the results but over which the researcher has no control CITATION Mil16 \l 1033 (Mills & L. R., 2016).Narrative analysisIn narrative research, the development of a narrative or story that focuses on particular knowledge about how or why an outcome occurred CITATION Mil16 \l 1033 (Mills & L. R., 2016).Narrative ResearchThe study of how different humans experience the world around them involves a methodology that allows people to tell the stories of their “storied lives” CITATION Mil16 \l 1033 (Mills & L. R., 2016).Purposive samplingThe process of selecting a sample that is believed to be representative of a given population CITATION Mil16 \l 1033 (Mills & L. R., 2016).Qualitative researchThe collection, analysis, and interpretation of comprehensive narrative and visual data to gain insights into a particular phenomenon of interest CITATION Mil16 \l 1033 (Mills & L. R., 2016). TriangulationThe use of multiple methods, data collection strategies, and data sources to get a more complete picture of what is being studied and to cross-check information CITATION Mil16 \l 1033 (Mills & L. R., 2016). InmateSee “Offender” OffenderAn individual who has been admitted to a prison, whether federal or state.Recidivism“Rearrests, reconviction, resentence to prison, and return to prison with or without a new sentence. All recidivism statistics are over a three year time span immediately following the prison term CITATION Lan02 \l 1033 (Langan & Levin, 2002).LimitationsThere are three limitation in this study: proximity, time, and bias. The proximity I am limited to is East Texas. There are several correctional facilities in East Texas, and I have designated Billy Moore, because I frequently volunteer there. The second limitation in this study is time. Former inmates have to be proactive in finding employment, residence, and transportation. They may not have much time for an interview. I also have a family, career, and pursuing a graduate degree. Bias is a limitation, because I want to men succeed and have and education. In purposive sampling, I would be looking for men who have obtained higher education and found successful jobs. Success is relative and there could be cases where education was achieved, yet parole was still violated. I have a bias to look for themes in their narratives during narrative analysis, because I seek to identify intrinsic and extrinsic themes. The questions I ask may be influenced by the themes that I hope to identify. Justification of the StudyThe purpose of this study is to identify the intrinsic and extrinsic reasons that higher education promotes success upon release, subsequently reducing recidivism rates in the Billy Moore Correctional Facility. By identifying the common thread of theoretical reasons that educational programs in TDCJ reduce recidivism rates, we can target program curriculum and instruction towards the needs of current inmates.ConclusionAos, Miller, Drake’s research, in 2006, determined that the cost of educating prisoners at twelve hundred dollars saved close to seven thousand dollars with the overall cost in savings per inmate being valued at fourteen-thousand dollars CITATION Gal13 \l 1033 (Gallo & Amos, 2013). There are many facets to rehabilitation, and even reasons for being intentional. Most importantly, there is a population that needs intervention and support. Marian Wright Edelman’s admirable life has impacted the world through education and activism. Edelman’s brilliant words resonate, “education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.” Chapter 2Literature ReviewThis Chapter includes review literature of five specific areas to help provide insight into this research topic. Recidivism is a national issue that has little support from the federal government, such as lack of funding. After being released from prison there are many impediments that hinder former inmates from finding employment, transportation, and a residence. Higher Education and Faith based programs are the only effective approach found to be statistically significant. In this literature review all of these topics will be covered. Ex-offender post services literature is also reviewed for a further long term sustainability to desistance. RecidivismOver the past 30 years The United States has lead the conviction and incarceration rates. From 1973 to 2008, prison populations grew from 200,000 to over 2.3 million. Prisons have become grossly overcrowded due to increases in crime with state and federal policies contributing to the numbers. 630,000 prison inmates were released from prison, 1,700 per day. Recidivism rates are at 68 percent within 3 years of release from prison. A necessary step in Texas for improving the whole-being of an offender, their family, and the community is reducing recidivism CITATION Tri10 \l 1033 (Tripodi, Kim, & Bender, 2010). To answer questions that arise in the subject of re-entry and recidivism, a series of Reentry Roundtable discussions were held in 2003. The Reentry Roundtable consisted of academics, practitioners, policymakers, service providers, former prisoners, and community leaders CITATION Sol04 \l 1033 (Solomon, Johnson, Travis, & McBride, 2004). ImpedimentsAs a condition of their parole, offenders could be required to obtain employment. This is challenging because the case for most is that experiences of employment difficulties before their arrest, are unemployed at the time of arrest, and find obstacles upon release. The opportunity for gaining work experience is lost during extended prison sentences, losing the connections to possible employment CITATION Tri10 \l 1033 (Tripodi, Kim, & Bender, 2010). “Over 80% of inmates leave prison are placed on parole” CITATION Sol04 \p 24 \l 1033 (Solomon, Johnson, Travis, & McBride, 2004, p. 24). Although employment is a requirement, there is no assistance with job placement. Other challenges include, as conditions of parole are curfews and parole officer attendance interrupting a parolee’s work schedule. “The most common barrier to legal employment is lack of identification. Most people leave prison without a driver’s license, passport, or other photo ID; social security card or birth certificate.” CITATION Nel00 \l 1033 (Nelson & Trone, 2000). The lack documentation limits public assistance, public health care, and employment. Project RIO assists inmates in the process of obtaining important documents, holds the when they arrive, and forwards the documents to the job placements and counseling offices upon release CITATION Nel00 \l 1033 (Nelson & Trone, 2000). Higher EducationWithout and education or vocational skills, offenders are at a severe disadvantage, and likely to resort back to an illegitimate means of survival, leading to incarceration. American Correctional Association determined that offenders who completed the GED program in prison have a 25% less likely to return to prison CITATION Pas13 \l 1033 (Passarell, 2013). Of all rehabilitation programs, education programs show the highest effectiveness in reducing recidivism CITATION Tri10 \l 1033 (Tripodi, Kim, & Bender, 2010). Dennis Anderson’s study finds a statistically significant relationship between paroles who received training were arrested fewer times, a correlation between the level of training completed and the chance of parole violation, and participants in educational programs or vocational training are more likely to continue when released for parole CITATION Tri10 \l 1033 (Tripodi, Kim, & Bender, 2010). Vocational training programs were analyzed by Harrison and Schehr in 2004 and found that they reduced recidivism between 10 and 50 percent for the first 5 years upon release. The research suggested an investment of 200 hours indicates commitment and is the turning point of which recidivism is reduced CITATION Tri10 \l 1033 (Tripodi, Kim, & Bender, 2010). Creating intentional programming is key for a former inmate to become prepared for employment in the local labor market. Providing opportunities and employment-related programming uses the incarceration time productively to address education, vocational and technical skills, and employment history. While taking a close look at policies of legislative mandates for inmate employment, it would be innovative to realign the employment offerings to higher-skills in the workplace CITATION Sol04 \l 1033 (Solomon, Johnson, Travis, & McBride, 2004). Faith BasedPrisoners who attended 10 or more Bible studies within one-year before release were significantly less probable to be re-incarcerated within one-year follower release, a study suggested, in New York prisons. These volunteer-led Bible studies have preliminary empirical evidence to support a reduced recidivism rate. InnerChange Freedom Initiative (IFI) is founded in biblical teaching, life-skills education, and group accountability. IFI is a three-phase program, 24 months in-prison faith-based program and 12 months of aftercare during parole. Program graduates, following release from prison, had significantly lower rates of incarceration, 8%, compared to the 36.3% incarceration rate of participants that did not complete CITATION Joh12 \l 1033 (Johnson, 2012). Community Chaplaincy work collaboratively with community-based volunteers, coordinating numerous projects to accommodate the needs of former inmates by providing opportunities to achieve employment skills, financial advice, benefits, pastoral counseling, and also counseling for substance abuse, physical and mental health issues CITATION Whi11 \l 1033 (Whitehead, 2011). Post ServicesFormer inmates are considered to be most at-risk re-incarceration during the first year of release. Motivational Interviewing is a great approach for parolees who struggle with the motivation to desist from relapsing or reoffending. “Motivational Interviewing is an intervention designed to help clients overcome ambivalence about making behavioral changes in their lives” CITATION Tri10 \l 1033 (Tripodi, Kim, & Bender, 2010). A second clinical therapy model approach fit for participants on parole is a solution-focused brief therapy, which uses Socratic questioning to collaborate goals and solve issues using the participant’s strengths CITATION Tri10 \l 1033 (Tripodi, Kim, & Bender, 2010). The Institute of Behavioral Research at Texas Christian University conducted a study examining the impact of residential aftercare on recidivism following prison-based treatment for drug involved offenders CITATION Hil99 \l 1033 (Hiller, Knight, & Simpson, 1999). “Results showed that that prison-based treatment lowers the risk for re-arrest after release and also prolongs the length of time until a re-arrest happens, following a residential community-based aftercare” CITATION Hil99 \p 839 \l 1033 (Hiller, Knight, & Simpson, 1999, p. 839). ConclusionThere are many facets to rehabilitation, and even reasons for being intentional. Most importantly, there is a population that needs intervention and support. Marian Wright Edelman’s admirable life has impacted the world through education and activism. Edelman’s brilliant words resonate, “education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.”Chapter 3MethodologyThe purpose of this study is to identify the intrinsic and extrinsic reasons that higher education during incarceration promotes success upon release, subsequently reducing recidivism rates in the Billy Moore Correctional Facility. This study will either prove or disprove the hypothesis that higher education impacts both intrinsic and extrinsic areas of former inmate’s lives. If the hypothesis is proved, then men will have contributed their success to higher education changing their self-perception and providing a new skill-set. Research QuestionWhy is higher education successful in reducing recidivism rates among former inmates at the Billy Moore Correctional facility in Overton, TX? Explanation of Research This study will be a Narrative Qualitative study of 10 ex-offenders that have received higher education during incarceration. I will also include an interview of 10 ex-offenders that have not received higher education during incarceration. Using an audio voice recording device to record the narratives of ex-offenders, I could then later transcribe a transcript and code each theme. Themes are organized based on what the ex-offender attributes their actions when asking an ex-offender why they committed a crime, or where they learned it from. The statistics show that education during incarceration significantly lowers recidivism, and I aim to attribute the reason education is so effective among ex-offenders upon release from Billy Moore Unite in Overton, TX.Procedures Volunteering in the Billy Moore Correctional Unit in Overton, TX, has given me the opportunity to meet men pursuing higher education during incarceration. The first procedure is to seek 10 ex-offenders that have gained higher education during incarceration and 10 ex-offenders who did not, petitioning them to participate in this narrative interview about the impact of higher education, or lack of, on their life after release from Billy Moore. Using an audio voice recording device, to record the narratives of ex-offenders, I could then later transcribe a transcript and code each theme.Setting and ParticipantsSettingThe setting of the study is where they are located.ParticipantsThe participants in this study are ex-offenders that have received higher education during incarceration, and those who have not. There are many obstacles to ex-offenders upon release during the process of finding employment, residence, and transportation. The participants are likely to be at different stages in their pursuit to success, or even failure due to their criminal history. It is their stories, situations, education and lack of education which makes this study relevant to other inmates, which is the future beneficiaries of this research. SamplingThe purposive sample for this research will include 10 ex-offenders that have gained higher education during incarceration and 10 ex-offenders who did not, petitioning them to participate in this narrative interview about the impact of higher education, or lack of, on their life after release from Billy Moore. Data Collection InterviewsI will be conducting interviews with former inmates. These interview will consist of questions in regard the access and experience of programs during incarceration, and the experiences after the release from prison on parole. ReflectionsAn audio recording of my thoughts after each interview will also be included and transcribed to detail any other observations or thoughts not included in the ex-offenders narrative. Ex-Offender ArtifactsArtifacts such as official transcripts, certificates, employment denial letters, residency denial letters, TDCJ documentation, and letters of recommendations from parole officers or employers are valuable data to determine the impact of education in the life of ex-offenders upon release.Timeline of Data CollectionThe initial interviews to collect audio voice recordings will take a six months, due to parole release dates and allowing time to experience obstacles of finding employment, transportation, and residence. Gathering each participant’s legal and scholastic documents may also take an extensive amount of time. My reflections will be completed promptly after each interview. When all data is collected, the coding process will commence. This process includes memoing, classifying, coding themes and identifying patterns. Data AnalysisI will use constant comparison in this study. “The main intellectual tool is comparison. The method of comparing and contrasting is used for practically all intellectual tasks during analysis: forming categories, establishing the boundaries of the categories, assigning the segments to categories, summarizing the content of each category, finding negative evidence, etc. The goal is to discern conceptual similarities, to refine the discriminative power of categories, and to discover patterns. (Tesch, 1990: 96) CITATION Boe02 \l 1033 (Boeije, 2002).”Trustworthiness (p. 68-75)“Trustworthiness Along with understanding, a feature essential to the validity of qualitative research; is established by addressing the credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability of study findings CITATION LRG09 \l 1033 (Gay, Mills, & Airasian, 2009).” credibility A term used in qualitative research to indicate that the topic was accurately identified and described CITATION LRG09 \l 1033 (Gay, Mills, & Airasian, 2009).There are six questions I will ask myself as I collect and analyze data: “(1) Are the data based on one’s own observation or on hearsay? (2) Are observations corroborated by others? (3) In what circumstances was an observation made or reported? (4) How reliable are those providing the data? (5) What motivations may have influenced a participant’s report? (6) What biases may have influenced how an observation was made or reported CITATION LRG09 \l 1033 (Gay, Mills, & Airasian, 2009)?” I will spend an extensive amount of time, six months, interviewing and collecting data from 20 former inmates. Using the ethnography of former inmates, the results of this study will have transferability. The triangulation of prison records, personal narratives, and field notes will allow for generalization of these findings to other prisons. Being objective in a qualitative study brings confirmability. During purposive sampling to select the former inmates, I will also select participants that I do not know personally, as not to have bias.ConclusionThere are many facets to rehabilitation, and even reasons for being intentional. Most importantly, there is a population that needs intervention and support. Marian Wright Edelman’s admirable life has impacted the world through education and activism. Edelman’s brilliant words resonate, “education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.”References BIBLIOGRAPHY Boeije, H. (2002). A purposeful approach to the constant comparative method in the analysis of qualitative interviews. Quality & Quantity, 391-409.Douglas Smith, Policy Analyst. (2016). Written testimony 2016. Texas Criminal Justice Coalition. Retrieved 5 18, 2018, from (Recidivism%20and%20Reentry).pdfFichte, R., Guerro, A., & Weatherby, G. A. (2014). Hand-to-hand combat: educational programs battle recidivism rates. Journal of Law and Criminal Justice, 214-230.Finn, P. (n.d.). Texas' project rio (re-intergration of offenders). Program Focus: National Institute of Justice, Office of Correctional Education.Gallo, R., & Amos, C. N. (2013). The impact of post secondary correctional education programs: is it worth it? Journal of Criminal Justice and Law Review, 3, 13-21.Gay, L. R., Mills, G. E., & Airasian, P. (2009). Educational research: Competencies for analysis and application, ninth eddition. Upper Saddle River: Pearson.Hiller, M. L., Knight, K., & Simpson, D. D. (1999). Prison-based substance abuse treatment, residential aftercare and recidivism. Addiction, 94, 833-842.Johnson, B. R. (2012). Can a faith-based prison reduce recidivism? Corrections Today, 60-62.Langan, P. A., & Levin, D. J. (2002). Recidivism of prisoners released from prison in 1994. Bureau of Justice Statistics.Legislative Budget Boards. (2015). Statewide criminal and juvenile justice recidivism and revocation rates. Retrieved 5 18, 2018, from , S. S., Butzin, C. A., Christine, S. A., & Inciardi, J. A. (n.d.). Three-year outcomes of therapeutic community treatment for drug-involved offenders in delaware: from prison to work release to aftercare. The Prison Journal, 79(3).Mills, G. E., & L. R., G. (2016). Educational Research, Competencies for Analysis and Applications. Pearson.Nelson, M., & Trone, J. (2000). Why planning for release matters. Issues in Brief, 1-8.Passarell, D. A. (2013). The effect earning a ged while incarcerated has on recidivism rates: a research synthesis. The College at Brockport, 1-43.Raphael, S. (2010). Improving employment prospects for former prison inmates: challenges and policy. NBER Working Paper Series.Solomon, A. L., Johnson, K. D., Travis, J., & McBride, E. C. (2004). From Prison to Work: The Employment Dimensions of Prisoner Reentry. A Report of the Reentry Roundtable, 1-32.Tripodi, S., Kim, J. S., & Bender, K. (2010). Is Employment Associated with Reduced Recidivism?: The Complex Relationship between Employment and Crime. Florida State University Libraries, 1-28.Whitehead, P. (2011). Faith Moves Mountains and Sometimes Reduces Recidivism: Community Chaplaincy and Criminal Justice Re-Formation in England and Wales. British Journal of Community Justice, 27-40. ................
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