Im, Vitalis and Pinto, Rogério M. (2024). Expanding Knowledge About Music and Well-Being in Carceral Settings: A Methodological Review. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, January 9, 2024, 1-18. 

Author Affiliations: School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 
Artforms: Music
Program: Multiple previously evaluated programs on the role and influence of musical practices on well-being in carceral settings
Program Description: N/A 
Program (Study) Location: N/A 
Participant Type: Mostly adult inmates; one study involved incarcerated juveniles
Sample Size: 55 previous studies
Study Published: 2024
Data Type: Review of existing literature base using ProQuest, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PsycInfo 
Evaluation Focus: Key methodological procedures used in all 55 studies  

Summary of Impact: The “review indicates that there is difficulty in conducting research in p isons due to limitations imposed on researchers, a paucity of randomized-control trials, and limited generalizability of results due to the heterogeneity of methodological approaches. We suggest that the literature base would benefit from increased attention to issues related to sampling procedures, research questions related to race and gender identity, as well as the delineation between the types of musical practices utilized by music interventions.” 

KEYWORDS: adult, juvenile, methodology, music

Hart, M., Soape, E., Barlow, C., Torrech-Perez, M., Gussak, D.E. & Schubarth, A. (2023). Expanding the IDEA: Ongoing- and Evolving-Evaluation of an Art Therapy in Prisons Program. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, first published online November 26, 2023, 1-14.

Author Affiliations: Florida State University (Hart, Soape, Barlow, Torrech-Perez, Gussak), Florida Department of Corrections, Tallahassee (Schubarth)
Artforms: Art therapy, drawing, visual arts
Program: Florida State University/Florida Department of Corrections Art Therapy in Prisons Program 
Program Description: Art therapy services for prisoners with emotional and behavioral disabilities to help them overcome educational struggles
Program (Study) Location: Nine state prisons in Florida
Study Published: November 26, 2023
Participant Type: Male and female prisoners, ages ~18-49 (*This study included both adult and juvenile prisoners.)
Sample Size: 308
Data Type: Empirical, descriptive and qualitative inquiry of inmates’ participation incorporating progress notes from art therapists, semi-structured discussions with institutional personnel and participants, disciplinary reports
Evaluation Focus: To “increase program participation and decrease incident and disciplinary reports, [thus] removing the impediments that make obtaining an education inside the institution challenging. 

Summary of Impact: Results varied by institution but overall researchers noted decreases in all categories of disciplinary reports while prisoners participated in the program versus when they did not. Type and number of settings was expanded

KEYWORDS: academic, adult, art therapy, attendance, drawing, disciplinary reports, education, juvenile, visual arts

Im, Vitalis and Pinto, Rogério M. (2023). Music and well-being in carceral settings: a scoping review. Art & Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice, published on line September 12, 2023, 1-18.

Author Affiliations: School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 
Artforms: Music
Program: Multiple previously evaluated programs 
Program Description: N/A 
Program (Study) Location: N/A 
Participant Type: Mostly adult inmates; one study involved incarcerated juveniles
Sample Size: 55 previous studies
Study Published: 2023
Data Type: Review of existing literature base using ProQuest, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PsycInfo 
Evaluation Focus: The impact of musical practices on the well-being (defined as life satisfaction, autonomy and purpose) of incarcerated individuals. 

Summary of Impact: The authors found that musical practices hold the potential to improve well-being and identity formation but also to harm incarcerated participants. Specifically, musical practices: 
●      “positively influence self-esteem and sociality which may facilitate processes of identity transformation” (p. 8)
●      “may be conduits of conflict of disciplinary power . . . a source of social disconnection” (p. 9)

KEYWORDS: adult, identity, juvenile, music, social connectedness, well-being

Kartikaningsih, N. et al. The Impact of an Expressive Writing and Storytelling Program on Ex-Offenders: A Pilot Study, International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, published online July 19, 2023

Author Affiliations: The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Artforms: writing, storytelling
Program: Six-week writing and storytelling program
Program Description: Pilot storytelling and expressive writing program
Program (Study) Location: Offender Alumni Association, Birmingham, AL
Participant Type: Community living ex-offenders
Sample Size: Nine adults
Study Published: 2023
Data Type: Quantitative, mixed-method, pre- and post-test
Evaluation Focus: Psychological recovery as measured by Recovery Assessment Scale, well-being, hope, social support, and loneliness.

Summary of Impact: ”Significant increase in participants’ psychological recovery.” Participants also expressed that the program provided a safe space for processing and expressing inner feelings, for connecting with peers, and for adjusting their way of thinking.

KEYWORDS: adult, expressive writing, hope, loneliness, psychological recovery, social support, storytelling, well-being

Soape, E., Barlow, C., Pérez, M.T., Hart, M., Gussak, D., Schubarth, A. and Sumner, C. (2023). Art Therapy in Prisons Program Exhibition: Implementation and Benefits, Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, published online May 19, 2023, 1-6.

Author Affiliations: Florida State University/Florida Department of Corrections (FSU/FDC) Art Therapy in Prisons Program (Soape, Barlow, Pérez, Gussak and Hart); Florida Bureau of Education, Florida Department of Corrections (Schubarth)
Artforms: art therapy
Program: The Florida State University (FSU)/Florida Department of Corrections Art Therapy in Prisons Program 
Program Description: Art therapy services for young inmates with emotional and behavioral disabilities to help them overcome educational struggles. 
Program (Study) Location: Two prisons in North Florida and two in Central Florida
Participant Type: Adult inmate artists, “outside” exhibit attendees
Sample Size: 57 of 58 “outside” attendees completed online surveys; number of artists unknown
Study Published: 2023
Data Type: Survey data and discussions
Evaluation Focus: Whether an annual art exhibition of participants’ work at an annual state-wide conference for prison educators provided opportunities for participants “to feel that they were being seen and heard on the outside.”

Summary of Impact: Prisoner artists felt that they were seen by people outside the prison. More than 78% of “outside” attendee survey respondents found the exhibit “enjoyable” and 82% “educational.” The “exhibition served as a bridge between those inside and outside,” the study concluded.

KEYWORDS: adult, art exhibit, art therapy

Weber, Amanda Kate. (2018). “Choral Singing and Communal Mindset: A program evaluation of the Voices of Hope women’s prison choir.” Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Minnesota.

Author Affiliations: University of Minnesota
Artforms: choral singing, music
Program: Voices of Hope
Program Description: Women’s prison choir at Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee. The choir was formed in 2015, has 50 members, rehearses once a week, collaborates with “outside” musicians and performs within the prison walls several times a year.
Program (Study) Location: Minnesota Correctional Facility, Shakopee, MN
Participant Type: incarcerated singers and collaborators
Sample Size: 94 (23 singers and 71 collaborators)
Study Published: Unpublished
Data Type: Case study evaluation employing surveys and interviews
Evaluation Focus: “The ways in which choral singing creates a communal mindset – developing skills of listening, empathy, and advocating for one another.” Specific research questions included:

• How singers described their experience of choral singing in prison, including any perceived emotional, behavioral and social impacts
• How collaborators describe their experience of choral singing in prison, how their view of incarceration has changed and the likelihood that action will spark further action
• Does the the experience of Voices of Hope singers align with the organizational mission?
• What is the role of the Voices of Hope in the wider community?

Summary of Impact: Responses from participants indicates that singers “found that choral singing invoked inward healing, positivity, empowerment and a sense of community for incarcerated singers” while “[C]ollaborators found the experience to be educational, transformative, positive, humbling and difficult.”

KEYWORDS: adult, advocacy, behavioral impact, choral singing, community, empowerment, music, social impact, women

Campbell, Natalie. (2018). On the Inside: Evaluating Education Programs in Prison. Unpublished master’s thesis, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35(2): 662-682.
                                       
Author Affiliations: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Artforms: Acting, animation, creative ensemble, drawing, knitting, mixed media, mural painting, printmaking, Shakespeare, watercolor and more
Program: NA
Program Description: NA
Program (Study) Location: Arts-education programs in Alabama, Illinois, Kansas, Ohio
Study Published: Unpublished
Participant Type: Prison-arts program administrators
Sample Size: Online survey was distributed to administrator at 22 organizations; four (18%) completed the survey
Data Type: Online survey distributed to active prison-arts program administrators
Evaluation Focus: Prevalence of hands-on art education to inmates in correctional facilities, specifically reporting how many people prison-arts programs serve, how often and under what conditions as well as perceptions of benefit.

Summary of Impact: Respondents reported that:

• Programs were conducted in various types of facilities: men’s only maximum- or minimum-security, men’s and women’s maximum-, medium- and minimum-security facilities
• Majority of students were African American, followed by white non-Hispanics or Hispanics; students ranged from age 18 to 60 but were primarily clustered between 30 and 45
• All program courses were taught by university professors
• Funding came from grants, donations, state funds and university funds
• Respondents felt that the programs improved quality of life for participants

KEYWORDS: acting, animation, creative ensemble, drawing, knitting, mixed media, mural painting, watercolor, writing