24. Duursma, E., Hanley, N., Evans, J. & Wilson, M. (2025). Words Within Walls: A Scoping Review of Prison-Based Creative Writing. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 69(13-14), 1955-1977.

24. Duursma, E., Hanley, N., Evans, J. & Wilson, M. (2025). Words Within Walls: A Scoping Review of Prison-Based Creative Writing. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 69(13-14), 1955-1977.

Author Affiliations: Western Sydney University/TeEACH Strategic Research Institute (Duursma); La Trobe University (Hanley); The University of Sydney (Evans): University of Wollongong (Wilson)

Artforms: Creative writing
Program: NA
Program Description: NA
Program (Study) Location: U.S., U.K., Australia
Study Published: 2025
Participant Type: NA
Sample Size: NA
Data Type: Scoping reviewexamining 56 peer-reviewed and non-peer reviewed sources including dissertations, book chapters, and reports.
Evaluation Focus: Overview of creative writing programs in prisons across the world, including characteristics of programs, information on providers, target audiences and evaluations.

Summary of Impact: The majority of studies were conducted in the U.S., followed by U.K., Australia, and Mexico, Belgium and Argentina represented as a single work. Programs were mainly provided by external organizations, specifically universities and charitable organizations. Nearly half of the studies did not provide demographic information about participants. For those that did, most focused on adults with overall ages ranging from 11 to 60. Males roughly equaled females. Importantly, most programs (53%) did not include evaluations. Those that did relied on self-reports, observations, and analysis of written works. There was minimal use of surveys or interviews. The authors state, “The study highlights the need for more rigorous research to assess the effectiveness of creative writing programs, which have the potential to improve prisoners’ wellbeing during and after imprisonment. Thorough research could demonstrate effectiveness, identify best practices, understand impact, improve programs and inform policy.”

KEYWORDS: adult, creative writing, evaluations, juvenile