Incarcerated writers search for narrative connections beyond prison walls in hope of writing a more humane and just world

Considerable research has shown that education programs in prison help to reduce recidivism rates by helping individuals develop skills they can use to secure jobs upon reentry to society. While recidivism rates provide one quantitative measure of the benefits of such programs to society as a whole, and though their measurement comprises an effective way to politically justify offering educational programs to violent offenders, recidivism rates constitute a racially biased metric that does not capture the more heuristic aspects of carceral education and the far community-reach of college-in-prison programs. This study examines the life experiences of four focal participants in a college-in-prison program and supports the inclusion of trauma-informed writing in prison education and narrative inquiry as an entry point for making connections between incarcerated and non-incarcerated individuals that will help facilitate working toward a wholesome future for all humans while removing judgement and condemnation for the past and staying patient in the present.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Curriculum and Instruction

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2021

Author dc:creator

• Catt, Chelsea

Contributors dc:contributor

• Möller, Karla J
• McCarthey , Sarah J
• Prendergast , Catherine J
• Ginsburg , Rebecca

• writing studies
• prison education
• therapeutic writing
• narrative inquiry
• qualitative research
• college in prison
• incarceration
• writing

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2020 Chelsea Catt

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/109376

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/109376