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Prison Education and Training in Europe: A Review and Commentary of Existing Literature, Analysis and Evaluation

NCJ Number
238818
Author(s)
Anne Costelloe; Torfinn Langelid
Date Published
May 2011
Length
109 pages
Annotation
This report from the European Commission's Directorate General for Education and Culture examines the current state of prison education and training in Europe.
Abstract
This report presents the results of a literature review on the current state of prison education and training in Europe. The work was based on four major themes: prison as a positive environment for learning; prison education and training for employability; prison education in specific subject areas; and effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and public value of prison education and training. The first three sections of the report present the results of a review of European literature and documentation covering each theme, while the fourth section includes both a review of literature from both Europe and the United States to compensate for the lack of European research on this theme. The final section of the report includes a summary of the literature review on each of the four themes as well as recommendations for future research in each of these areas. As noted from the literature review, the research results show that prison education and training has the potential to change the direction for inmates, helping them secure employment, reintegrate into society, and prevent re-offending, as well as bringing significant economic and social benefits to society. Bibliography