Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Richard Worch

Abstract

There is limited knowledge of how correctional education programs prepare rural African American men for reentry into society after incarceration. The purpose of this study was to learn how young, rural African American men between the ages of 20 to 30 years perceived their experiences of technical correctional education programs and how such programs aided in reducing recidivism during their reentry process from incarceration. This qualitative study was guided by the institutional theory which purported that correctional education should be based on the population served and not on mirroring other institutions. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, data were collected from five formerly incarcerated African American men using semistructured interviews and were electronically transcribed and analyzed using NVivo. This study aimed in filling in the gap in the literature by unveiling young, rural African American men’s perceptions of correctional education programs and their plight during reintegration into society. Four findings emerged from the dataset that included: (a) a lack of choices on technical correctional programs, (b) helped provide employment opportunities to inmates post release, (c) strengthened family relationships, and (d) reduced recidivism. It is important that prisons continue to examine the technical correctional education programs that they provide to African American men so that they can return to society as functioning members, experiencing a decreased rate of recidivism, which is beneficial to all community members and leading to positive social change.

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