Okelola, Valerie and Irvine, Angela. (2015). Impact Justice: Evaluating the Actor’s [sic] Gang.

Okelola, Valerie and Irvine, Angela. (2015). Impact Justice: Evaluating the Actor’s [sic] Gang.

Author Affiliations: Impact Justice
Artforms: Theater, Drama
Program: The Actors’ Gang Prison Project
Program Description: The Prison Project is the outreach arm of The Actors’ Gang, the theater troupe founded by actor Tim Robbins. The program conducts at least three eight-week programs each year inside California’s prison system.
Program (Study) Location: Selected California correctional facilities
Study Published: Unpublished research.
Participant Type: Adult inmates, 41% Black, 33% Hispanic, 16% White, 10% “Other”male maximum-security psychiatric inmates, 47% sex offenders, 53% non-sex offenders, mean age 34.5 years
Sample Size: 49
Data Type: Quantitative.
Study Design: This study “analyzed data from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on individuals who participated in The Actors’ Gang Prison Project between November of 2010 and February of 2015. Impact Justice conducted preliminary analysis to develop a demographic profile of program participants and conducted statistical test to explore changes in the number of disciplinary incidence over time (called ‘115’s).”
Evaluation Focus: Effect on disciplinary infractions among participants.

Summary of Impact: “Results indicate that the mean number of 115 incidences decreases over time. The number of 115 incidents varies among participant (between 0 and 34 incidents) but overall the number of incidents decreases over time. Prior to participation, prisoners that participated in Actor’s [sic] Gang were punished for an average of 5.31 disciplinary incidents. After participating, prisoners participating in Actor’s [sic] Gang were punished for .59 disciplinary incidents. The results illustration an 89% decrease in disciplinary incidents over time.”

KEYWORDS: adult, disciplinary infractions, drama, theater

Pecenco, Laura (2015). “Paint in the Can: Creating Art and Doing Gender in Prison.” University of California, San Diego.

Pecenco, Laura (2015). “Paint in the Can: Creating Art and Doing Gender in Prison.” University of California, San Diego.

Author Affiliations: University of California, San Diego.
Artforms: Visual arts (mural making, painting, drawing, bookbinding, block printing), music
Program: Prison arts programs across California
Program (Study) Location: Adult medium/maximum correctional facility, Southern California (ethnography); California (interviews)
Program Description: The arts program that was the subject of this ethnography was created by the researcher/author. The class met twice per week for three hours at a time (a minimum of six hours per week) at the prison.
Study Published: 2015
Participant Type: Incarcerated and formerly incarcerated adult male participants, prison arts program instructors, former prison arts program instructors
Sample Size: 56 incarcerated individuals (participant observation), 52 interviewees (31 incarcerated and eight formerly incarcerated adult males and 13 prison arts program staff members), 264 publicly available artworks created by incarcerated artists
Data Type: Mixed qualitative methods: Ethnography/participant observation (450+ hours), in-depth interviews, content analysis
Study Design: This study was designed to “assess changes in personal growth, emotional balance, and increased self-expression over a periods of a year and a half” among inmates participating in the poetry program.
Evaluation Focus: Impact of participation in prison arts programs on performance of gender

Summary of Impact: Prison arts programs provide safer environments within the prison, allowing incarcerated participants to shed the hypermasculine imperative that is present in more public areas of the prison. Through the process of “artistization,” they adopt an alternative artist identity, which encourages protecting the arts program and growing as an artist via sharing supplies, thoughts and emotions across gender, racial, class, age, disability, sexual orientation and other boundaries.

KEYWORDS: adult, age, class, disability, gender hypermasculinity, hypermasculine imperative, identity, intersectionality, music, visual arts

Reiter, Sherry. (2010). “Poets-behind-bars: A creative “righting” project for prisoners and poetry therapists-in-training.” Journal of Poetry Therapy, 23(4), 215-238.

Reiter, Sherry. (2010). “Poets-behind-bars: A creative “righting” project for prisoners and poetry therapists-in-training.” Journal of Poetry Therapy, 23(4), 215-238.

Author Affiliations: Creative writing Center, New York City and Touro College, Hofstra University, Long Island
Artforms: Creative writing, poetry
Program: Poets-Behind-Bars (PBB)
Program (Study) Location: Penitentiary of New Mexico, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Program Description: PBB is a long-distance writing program in which poetry therapy trainees mentor poets-behind-bars.
Study Published: December 2013
Participant Type: Adult male maximum-security offenders
Data Type: Qualitative: pre- and post-questionnaires
Study Design: This study was designed to “assess changes in personal growth, emotional balance, and increased self-expression over a periods of a year and a half” among inmates participating in the poetry program.
Evaluation Focus: Changes in personal growth, emotional balance and self-expression

Summary of Impact: Researchers noted a “slight increase in emotional balance” but concluded that “the number of questionnaires completed [were] too few to show any scientific validity. “Soft evidence” came from participant commentary on final questionnaires, which reflected perceptions of enhanced creativity, expressiveness, emotional release, communication and poetry skills.

KEYWORDS: adult, creative writing, creativity, emotions, poetry

Richards, J. M., Beal, W. E., Seagal, J. D., & Pennebaker, J. (2000). Effects of Disclosure of Traumatic Events on Illness Behavior Among Psychiatric Prison Inmates. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 109(1), 159-60.

Richards, J. M., Beal, W. E., Seagal, J. D., & Pennebaker, J. (2000). “Effects of Disclosure of Traumatic Events on Illness Behavior Among Psychiatric Prison Inmates.” Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 109(1), 159-60.

Author Affiliations: Department of Psychology, Stanford University (Richards); Forest Institute of Professional Psychology (Beal); Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin (Seagal and Pennebaker)
Artforms: Creative writing
Program: Trauma Writing
Program Description: This study examined the effects of trauma writing on maximum-security, psychiatric prison inmates. Maximum-security psychiatric inmates, a group noted for high use of health services, were offered writing sessions over the course of three days.
Program (Study) Location: Psychiatric correctional venue, Midwest U.S.
Study Published: 2009
Participant Type: Adult male maximum-security psychiatric inmates, 47% sex offenders, 53% non-sex offenders, mean age 34.5 years
Sample Size: 98
Data Type: Quantitative; participants in the writing conditions completed a Symptom and Emotion Self-Report Survey after each day’s writing.
Study Design: This study was designed to test the hypothesis that “psychiatric prison inmates who wrote about traumatic events for 3 consecutive days would show a decrease in infirmary visits from 6 weeks pre- to 6 weeks postwriting; and that participants who either wrote about trivial topics or did not write at all would not evince such health improvement” (p.157). Participants were assigned to one of three conditions. Those in the first group were asked to write about their deepest thoughts and feelings surrounding upsetting experiences (trauma writing condition). Those in the first control group (trivial writing control) were asked to write about an assigned trivial topics. Participants in the second control group (no-writing control) went about their daily routine without writing (no-writing control). Both writing groups wrote for 20 minutes a day for three consecutive days.
Evaluation Focus: Health effects of writing for psychiatric prison inmates

Summary of Impact: This study extends previous research on the health benefits associated with writing about traumatic events to a psychiatric population of maximum-security prison inmates (p. 159). Results of the study found that:
● Trauma-writing participants visited the infirmary less often after writing compared with the two control groups.
● Those incarcerated for sex crimes were significantly more likely to show health improvement after trauma writing than non-sex offenders.
● A decrease in infirmary visits pre-to post-writing.

KEYWORDS: adult, creative writing, emotions, health, psychiatric, sex offenders, symptoms

Rojiani, R., Junn, A., Wood, M., Gordon, K.L. and Sells, D. (2021). Group drumming for incarcerated men may improve community reintegration: a mixed methods pilot study. Journal of Experimental Criminology.

Rojiani, R., Junn, A., Wood, M., Gordon, K.L. and Sells, D. (2021). Group drumming for incarcerated men may improve community reintegration: a mixed methods pilot study.
Journal of Experimental Criminology.

Author Affiliations: Harvard Medical School, Yale School of Medicine, Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health
Artforms: Drumming, music
Program: NA
Program Description: Eight weeks of group drumming sessions, each weekly session lasting approximately one hour.
Program (Study) Location: Two halfway house work-release programs, New Haven, Connecticut
Study Published: May 13, 2021
Participant Type: Adult male probationers
Sample Size: 28
Data Type: Quantitative and qualitative exploratory pilot investigation. Twenty-eight residents were randomized to the group drumming treatment arm or to treatment as usual. Interviews to assess self-reported benefits took place after completion of eight-week session.
Evaluation Focus: Halfway house retention rate, self-reported benefit

Summary of Impact: Average attendance was 6.9 (out of a total of 8). Retention rate
in the drumming group was 100% compared with 63.3% in the control group.
Post-session interviews revealed that drumming served as a method for coping with
stress, as an opportunity for connection through building relationships and experiencing
communion and as an avenue for personal growth, particularly toward re-humanization
and self-empowerment.

KEYWORDS: adult, community, drumming, halfway house, music, parole, probation,
personal growth, relationship, retention rate, reintegration, self-empowerment, stress

St. Pierre, W. (n.d.). Changing Lives through Literature: New Bedford Evaluation.

St. Pierre, W. (n.d.). Changing Lives through Literature: New Bedford Evaluation.

Author Affiliations: Probation Officer, New Bedford District Court
Artforms: Bibliotherapy, Literature
Program: New Bedford, Massachusetts Changing Lives Through Literature (CLTL) Program Description: The New Bedford CLTC program has completed six cycles of students since 2001. Seminars involve 8-10 weekly sessions each lasting two hours and involving 6-10 single-gender students, most of whom are court-involved. Some programs are with halfway houses. Texts include The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros and The Rules of the Road by Joan Bauer for girls and Brian’s Winter by Gary Paulsen and The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien for boys. Seminars usually end with a class project.
Program (Study) Location: New Bedford, Massachusetts
Study Published: n.d.
Participant Type: Adult male probationers
Sample Size: 68
Data Type: Quantitative: Analysis of criminal activity
Evaluation Focus: Misdemeanors, felonies, criminal activity, recidivism

Summary of Impact:
The analysis of 10 consecutive CLTL seminars that took place from April 1991 through January 1995 found:
● Overall 68% decrease in criminal activity by probationers after completing the program.
● Reduction in number of felonies ranged from 70.8% to 100% depending on the group.
● Reduction in the number of misdemeanors ranged from 24% to 100%.

KEYWORDS: adult, bibliotherapy, Changing Lives Through Literature, felonies, literature, misdemeanors, recidivism

Schutt, R., K., Deng, X. and Stoehr, T. (2013). Using Bibliotherapy to Enhance Probation and Reduce Recidivism. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 52, 181-197.

Schutt, R., K., Deng, X. and Stoehr, T. (2013). “Using Bibliotherapy to Enhance Probation and Reduce Recidivism.” Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 52, 181-197.

Author Affiliations: Department of Sociology, University of Massachusetts Boston
Artforms: Bibliotherapy, literature
Program: Changing Lives Through Literature (CLTL)
Program Description: CLTL provides an alternative to incarceration for repeat, high-risk offenders and seeks to build self-esteem by “enhancing participants’ communication skills, sharpening their analytical skills and providing them with a forum for discussing personal concerns without having to recount personal experiences” (http://cltl.umassd.edu/programsresults1a.cfm ). Participants selected by the court receive intensive probation, pre-employment/job placement services and meet every other week on a university campus to discuss contemporary literature. The readings and the discussions mirror themes the participants may be dealing with in their own lives, such as violence, masculinity and individual identity. At the conclusion of the bibliotherapeutic portion of the program, local businessmen meet with participants to share their own life experiences and stories of success.
Program (Study) Location: Massachusetts
Study Published: 2013
Participant Type: Adult male and female probationers, probation officers, instructors, judges
Sample Size:
● Observation of program process: 28 program participants, 20 probation officers, instructors and judges
● Impact analysis of recidivism: 1,218 adult male and female probationers (604 participants, 614 controls)
● Impact analysis of offense severity: 678 adult male and female probationers (283 participants, 395 controls)
Data Type: Quantitative, Qualitative
● Observation of program process, including: focus group, class observations, semi-structured interviews, structured phone survey
● Impact analysis: recidivism data 18 months pre-program and 18 months post-program for participants were compared with recidivism data for a group of matched controls
Evaluation Focus: Impact of CLTL on participant recidivism

Summary of Impact:
● Observational study of program process: increased pride, self-esteem, social relations, problem-solving, trust and sense of accomplishment; cognitive reframing of issues.
● Recidivism impact: Among an admittedly small cohort (30 participants and 40 non-participants), researchers found a reconviction rate of 19% for program participants versus 45% for the comparison group.
● Impact analysis: During the 18 months prior to CLTL participation vs 18 months post-participation, participants showed a 59.5% decline in incidents versus a 26% decline among controls. Authors also noted a decline in the most serious charges pre- to post-program. For both measures, the amount of change was greater for the program participants than for the control group.

KEYWORDS: adult, bibliotherapy, Changing Lives Through Literature, cognitive reframing, literature, pride, probation, problem-solving, recidivism, self-esteem, sense of accomplishment, social relations, trust

Soape, E., Barlow, C., Gussak, D., Brown, J. and Schubarth, A. (2021). Creative IDEA: Introducing a Statewide Art Therapy in Prisons Program. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 1-18.

Soape, E., Barlow, C., Gussak, D., Brown, J. and Schubarth, A. (2021). Creative IDEA: Introducing a Statewide Art Therapy in Prisons Program. International Journal of Offender
Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 1-18.

Author Affiliations: Florida State University and Florida Department of Corrections, Tallahassee
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 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
Study Published: May 11, 2021
Participant Type: Male and female juvenile offenders
Sample Size: 64
Data Type: The original research was designed as a descriptive and qualitative inquiry of offenders’ participation, progress notes from art therapists, semi-structured interviews with institutional personnel and disciplinary reports
Evaluation Focus: The original study aimed to assess number of disciplinary referrals, time spent in solitary, attendance at academic services, change in mood, focus, locus of control, problem solving and socialization. The pandemic necessitated changes to a “mental health triage” model wherein the program and research goals pivoted to decreasing anxiety and fear caused by the uncertainty of the pandemic; improving frustration and anger management; and facilitating socialization and connection with people outside all through provision of remote art therapy services via distributed and collected workbooks

Summary of Impact: Due to Covid-19, the researchers could not determine the effectiveness of the program in reducing disciplinary reports and time in seclusion or the ability of participants to focus on educational programming. Instead, participant feedback indicated that participants did find some relief from anxiety, fear and extended boredom.

KEYWORDS: academic, anxiety, art therapy, Covid-19, drawing, fear, juvenile, pandemic, visual arts

Worrall J., & Koines, M. (1978). Project CULTURE. Alexandria, VA: American Correctional Association.

Worrall J., & Koines, M. (1978). Project CULTURE. Alexandria, VA: American Correctional Association.

Author Affiliations: American Correctional Association
Artforms: Arts and crafts, ceramics, chorus, clowning, creative writing, dance, design, drama, drawing, drums, guitar, leather, macrame, movement, music, oil painting, piano, sculpture, sketching, string art, theater, visual arts, weaving, woodburning, wood-carving
Program: Project CULTURE
Program Description: Project CULTURE (Creative Use of Leisure Time Under Restrictive Environments) was the first comprehensive national program of leisure-time activities inside correctional facilities. Twenty-one projects were implemented at 54 sites across the U.S. Four programs were included in the evaluation:
● California Institution for Women at Fontera: A theater workshop provided by the Los Angeles-based non-profit organization Artists in Prison and Other Places, Inc. (AIPOP) included writing, dance and theater components and culminated in an original theater piece created and performed inside the institution before an audience of more than 1,000 community members. The final production involved 28 inmates in varying capacities. Participants received college credit in dance, creative Writing and theater production through LaVerne College in LaVerne, California.
● The New Jersey Correctional Institution for Women program included creative writing, dance, music/chorus, music/movement/theater, art program and a clown workshop
● The Sheridan Correctional Center Project CULTURE program was operated by Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC). A part-time arts-and-crafts instructor taught fourteen six-week mini-courses focusing on nine media: leather, oil painting, drawing and sketching, string art, macrame, wood-carving, woodburning, weaving and ceramics. A part-time music instructor taught four 10- or 11-week mini-courses including lessons on the electric and acoustic guitar, drums and piano. Participants displayed their arts-and-crafts projects
● Oklahoma Prison Arts Program: Three-month workshops were offered in leather, writing, drawing, painting, design, sculpture, drama and opera. Participants were involved in performances and exhibits.
Program (Study) Location: Evaluations were conducted at the following four facilities:
● California Institution for Women at Fontera, (program administered by Artists in Prison and Other Places, Inc.)
● New Jersey Correctional Institution for Women (CIW), Clinton, New Jersey
● Sheridan Correctional Center, Sheridan Illinois (program administered by Illinois Valley Community College)
● Oklahoma Prison Arts Program in five state institutions: McAlester, Granite, McLeod, Quachita and Strongtown (program administered by the Oklahoma Arts and Humanities Council)
Study Published: 1978
Participant Type: Adult male and female inmates
Sample Size: 5000+
Data Type: Quantitative, Qualitative: Self-evaluations of individual projects conducted by individual contractors; national evaluation conducted by an independent evaluator; pre- and post-program incident rates; interviews with inmates, artists and correctional officials.
Evaluation Focus:
● California Institution for Women: discipline, commitment, creative self-expression, self-worth and sense of accomplishment, cooperation
● New Jersey Correctional Institution for Women: self-worth,self-motivation, release of emotions, positive peer group interaction, positive communication between staff and offenders
● Sheridan Correctional Center: cognition, attendance, self-concept, project completion, incident rates
● Oklahoma Prison Arts Program: Incident reports; self-respect, writing, interpretation, vocabulary, listening, reasoning, communication and critical analysis skills; self-respect

Summary of Impact:
● National Results:
○ 61.4% program completion rate (p. 6).
○ Only 16.8% of participants dropped out or were removed for poor behavior or attendance (p. 6).
○ Reduced tension levels.
○ Incident rates reduced between 54% and 100% depending on the location (p. 7).
○ Involvement of female offenders.
○ Greater community awareness of offenders.
○ Increased self-worth on part of participants.

● California Institution for Women:
○ Increased discipline, commitment, creative self-expression, self-worth and sense of accomplishment.
○ Cooperation between artists and California Institute for Women staff.

● New Jersey Correctional Institution for Women
○ Increased self-worth and respect for others.
○ Negative feelings towards staff and community became positive.
○ Increased respect of correctional staff towards inmates.
○ No behavior problems during the workshops.
○ Incident reports of incorrigible inmates markedly decreased after enrollment.

● Sheridan Correctional Center:
○ Participants scored higher than anticipated on cognition tests.
○ Music students exceeded the objective of 80% by 2.2%, arts and crafts students by 14% (p. 13).
○ 82% program completion rate (p. 13).
○ Improved self-concept as measured by skill acquisition, completion of projects and statistically significant results on the Tennessee Self-Concept inventory.
○ Arts projects were displayed through few were sold (because participants wanted to keep them).○ Individual educational plans for each student were developed.
○ Incident rates declined from 2.4 per year per inmate prior to Project CULTURE to 1.2 per year (p. 13).

● Oklahoma Prison Arts Program:
○ Original program objectives achieved at 88% level (p. 15).
○ Drop in behavioral infractions in women’s unit from 90% to 57% during program participation [as cited in Hillman, G. (Spring/Summer 1994). Kerouac’s Town, Dickens and Prison Art. Texas Journal of Ideas, History and Culture , 16(2), p. 27].
○ Development of skills including but not limited to writing, interpretation, vocabulary, listening, reasoning, communication, critical analysis and publishing processes.
○ Increased positive verbal interaction among class and staff.
○ Increase in participant self-respect and subsequent enhancement of general institution atmosphere.

KEYWORDS: adult, arts and crafts, behavior, ceramics, chorus, clowning, commitment, community, creative writing, dance, design, discipline, drama, drawing, drums, guitar, incident rates, leather, macrame, movement, music, oil painting, piano, Project CULTURE, sculpture, self-respect, self-worth, sense of achievement, sketching, string art, theater, visual arts, weaving, woodburning, wood-carving

Baker, S. and Homan, S. (2007). Rap, Recidivism and the Creative Self: A Popular Music Programme for Young Offenders in Detention. Journal of Youth Studies, 10, (4), 459-476.

Baker, S. and Homan, S. (2007). “Rap, Recidivism and the Creative Self: A Popular Music Programme for Young Offenders in Detention“. Journal of Youth Studies, 10, (4), 459-476.

Author Affiliations: University of Leeds, UK (Baker); Cultural Industries & Practices Research Centre, University of Newcastle, Australia (Homan)
Artforms: Guitar, hip-hop, keyboard, music, rap, song-writing
Program: Genuine Voices
Program (Study) Location: Short-term (90-day) secure treatment center in Massachusetts
Program Description: Genuine Voices conducts music programs for youth in juvenile detention centers and other educational and institutional settings in the U.S. and worldwide. Its mission is to prevent youth violence and crime and foster youths’ ability to plan and make “positive life decisions.” The juvenile offender program consists of piano, guitar, rap and sequencing lessons, both group and individual, twice weekly. Youths who have earned good-behavior privileges may volunteer to participate in the program (p. 464).
Study Published: September 2007
Participant Type: Juvenile male offenders
Data Type: Qualitative: Ethnographic methodology including observation, interviews and program evaluation.
Evaluation Focus: Benefits of popular music programs in fostering individual creativity, self-esteem, identity and social communication

Summary of Impact: Researchers concluded that the program aided individual and collective communication and community-building and improved participants’ organizational skills, self-esteem, self-control, focus and sense of achievement. Participants produced a CD recording at the end of the program.

KEYWORDS: communication, community, focus, hip-hop, identity, juvenile, music, rap, self-control, self-esteem, sense of achievement, youth