Postsecondary Education Programs Among Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Adults: A Systematic Review of Recidivism and Reentry Outcomes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E7/2026-29Keywords:
Correctional Education, Recidivism, Incarcerated Adults, Criminal Justice, Prison EducationAbstract
High rates of reoffending mean that release from prison often marks the beginning of a renewed cycle of incarceration rather than a permanent transition to community life. Although evidence on the role of postsecondary education in reducing recidivism has grown substantially since the year 2000, existing reviews paid limited attention to the mechanisms through which education may influence desistance. This systematic review synthesizes empirical research examining the relationship between postsecondary education programs and recidivism among incarcerated and formerly incarcerated adults. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, the review searched various databases to obtain fifteen studies. These sources that met the inclusion criteria were synthesized narratively. Overall, the evidence suggests that participation in postsecondary education is associated with lower rates of recidivism. However, the strength of this relationship diminished as methodological rigor increased. The most consistent benefits were observed among individuals engaged in college-level education and those who completed a credential rather than merely enrolled in a program. Despite its effects, postsecondary education remains one of the few correctional interventions that continues to receive support under rigorous evaluation. As access to educational opportunities expands, policymakers and practitioners should invest in program designs that address selection bias and other methodological challenges.
References
1) Adjei, E., Akomeah, F. O., Kumi, A., & Shardey, E. (2026). Reimagining access: Institutional narratives and practices shaping educational equity for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated learners in the U.S. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research, 8(1), 1–14.https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i01.66841
2) Bozick, R., Steele, J., Davis, L., & Turner, S. (2018). Does providing inmates with education improve postrelease outcomes? A meta-analysis of correctional education programs in the United States. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 14(3), 389–428.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11292-018-9334-6
3) Cale, J., Day, A., Casey, S., Bright, D., Wodak, J., Giles, M., & Baldry, E. (2019). Australian prison vocational education and training and returns to custody among male and female ex-prisoners: A cross-jurisdictional study. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology,52(1), 129–147. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004865818779418
4) Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. (2024). CASP cohort study checklist. https://casp-uk.net/casp-tools-checklists/
5) Davis, L. M., Bozick, R., Steele, J. L., Saunders, J., & Miles, J. N. V. (2013). Evaluating the effectiveness of correctional education: A meta-analysis of programs that provide education to incarcerated adults (RR-266-BJA). RAND Corporation. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR266.html
6) Davis, L. M., Steele, J. L., Bozick, R., Williams, M. V., Turner, S., Miles, J. N. V., Saunders, J., & Steinberg, P. S. (2014). How effective is correctional education, and where do we go from here? The results of a comprehensive evaluation (RR-564-BJA). RAND Corporation. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR564.html
7) Denney, M. G. T., & Tynes, R. (2021). The effects of college in prison and policy implications. Justice Quarterly, 38(7), 1542–1566.
https://doi.org/10.1080/07418825.2021.2005122
8) Donaldson, V. M., & Viera, C. (2021). College after Prison: A Review of the Literature on Barriers and Supports to Postsecondary Education for Formerly Incarcerated College Students. John Jay College Institute for Justice and Opportunity.
9) Duwe, G., & Clark, V. (2014). The effects of prison-based educational programming on recidivism and employment. The Prison Journal, 94(4), 454–478. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032885514548009
10) Ellison, M., Szifris, K., Horan, R., & Fox, C. (2017). A rapid evidence assessment of the effectiveness of prison education in reducing recidivism and increasing employment. Probation Journal, 64(2), 108–128. https://doi.org/10.1177/0264550517699290
11) Giles, M. (2016). Study in prison reduces recidivism and welfare dependence: A case study from Western Australia 2005–2010 (Trends & Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice No. 514). Australian Institute of Criminology. https://doi.org/10.52922/ti154211
12) Kim, R. H., & Clark, D. (2013). The effect of prison-based college education programs on recidivism: Propensity score matching approach. Journal of Criminal Justice, 41(3), 196–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2013.03.001
13) Kumi, A., Akomeah, F. O., & Aryee, C. (2026). Correctional education and certification in the U.S.: Employer recognition and post-release labor market outcomes—A scoping review. Advanced International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 4(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.62127/aijmr.2026.v04i01.1170
14) Lockwood, S., Nally, J. M., Ho, T., & Knutson, K. (2012). The effect of correctional education on postrelease employment and recidivism: A 5-year follow-up study in the state of Indiana. Crime & Delinquency, 58(3), 380–396. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011128712441695
15) McNeeley, S. (2023). The effects of vocational education on recidivism and employment among individuals released before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 67(13–14), 1547–1564. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X231159886
16) Newton, D., Day, A., Giles, M., Wodak, J., Graffam, J., & Baldry, E. (2018). The impact of vocational education and training programs on recidivism: A systematic review of current experimental evidence. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 62(1), 187–207. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X16645083
17) Nur, A. V., & Nguyen, H. (2023). Prison work and vocational programs: A systematic review and analysis of moderators of program success. Justice Quarterly, 40(1), 129–158. https://doi.org/10.1080/07418825.2022.2026451
18) Pinamang, A. (2026a). Behavioral health and violence prevention in the United States: A systematic review of evidence-based community intervention strategies. Magna Scientia Advanced Research and Reviews, 17(1), 96–105. https://doi.org/10.30574/msarr.2026.17.1.0080
19) Pinamang, A. (2026b). Gun violence as a public health issue in the United States: A review of sociological and criminal justice prevention approaches. Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, 2(5), 649–655. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E5/2026-19
20) Pompoco, A., Wooldredge, J., Lugo, M., Sullivan, C., & Latessa, E. J. (2017). Reducing inmate misconduct and prison returns with facility education programs. Criminology & Public Policy, 16(2), 515–547. https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-9133.12290
21) Quach, K., Cerda-Jara, M., Deverux, R., & Smith, J. (2022). Prison, College, and the Labor Market: A Critical Analysis by Formerly Incarcerated and Justice-Impacted Students. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 701(1), 78-97.
22) Sokoloff, N. J., & Schenck-Fontaine, A. (2017). College programs in prison and upon reentry for men and women: a literature review. Contemporary Justice Review, 20(1), 95–114. https://doi.org/10.1080/10282580.2016.1262772
23) Stickle, B., & Sprick Schuster, S. (2023). Are schools in prison worth it? The effects and economic returns of prison education. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 48(6), 1263–1294. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-023-09747-3
24) Winterfield, L., Coggeshall, M., Burke-Storer, M., Correa, V., & Tidd, S. (2009). The Effects of Postsecondary Correctional Education:" Final Report". Urban Institute (NJ1).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Felix Ohemeng Akomeah (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
