Post-Secondary Correctional Education and Recidivism: A Meta-Analysis of Research Conducted 1990-1999

Journal of Correctional Education, Jun 2004 by Chappell, Cathryn A

A few large-scale meta-analyses on education and recidivism have been completed. In 1992, Palmer published a book integrating and discussing the findings from 32 meta-analyses and literature reviews from 1975-1989. He focused mainly on juvenile delinquents in institutional and community-based settings with at least adequate research designs and analyses. He concluded that there was "little doubt that many programs worked, and not just with one or two types of offenders and programs" (p. 76).

In a 1995 review of research on adult academic and vocational correctional education (1980-1991), Gerber & Fristch found that participation in PSCE was likely to produce benefits for inmates and society due to a clear and consistent correlation between collegiate studies and recidivism. Wells (2000) explored relationships between several educational variables, not just post-secondary, and the post-release behaviors. His findings support a positive relationship (negative correlation) between education, social bonding, and recidivism.

A very recent and comprehensive study published in September of 2001, was conducted for the U. S. Department of Education, Office of Correctional Education by the Correctional Education Association (Steurer, Smith a Tracy). This was a three-state, longitudinal study (Ohio, Maryland and Minnesota) with data on about 3,200 inmates released in late 1997 and early 1998. Although participation in education programs while incarcerated was the major variable, over 500 variables were collected on each participant and the design framework included internal control groups. Re-arrest, reconviction and re-incarceration were measured for three years. The rates of these recidivism constructs were significantly lower for education participants. The types of education programs attended typically included Adult Basic Education, high school, GED preparation, Life Skills, vocational training, and post-secondary education. The recidivism data were not dis-aggregated for distinct types of education, therefore, no specific data on the impact of post-secondary correctional education on recidivism was reported. Although the Three-State Recidivism Study is extremely valuable in terms of depth, breadth and findings, post-secondary correctional education is more difficult to justify and procure funding, so comprehensive data showing its particular importance is also needed.

Research Design

Meta-analysis is a set of statistical procedures that are used to quantitatively aggregate the results from many studies for the purpose of integrating the findings (Glass, 1976). It is a powerful and common approach to summarizing empirical research. The main reason to use this technique is to generate an overall correlation as to the existence of a relationship. Combining correlations from many studies in a meta-analysis synthesizes the results so that overall conclusions can be drawn (Cooper, 1989). Meta-analytic procedures also give the ability to investigate relationships not investigated in the original primary studies and find trends too subtle to identify with narrative reviews. Meta-analysis is a more standardized and objective means of integrating results from multiple primary studies (Arthur, Bennett, & Huffcutt, 2001).