The effect of correctional facility programming on nonviolent beliefs

Gemstone Team Peace in Prisons

To date, little research has made an effort to pinpoint measurable changes in beliefs resulting from correctional facility programming. Peace in Prisons studied the effects of the programs at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility on the inmates' beliefs regarding violence. It was hypothesized that inmates participating in programs would undergo a greater reduction in violent beliefs over time than those not in programs. The team administered the Nonviolence Test to inmates three times over a 3-month period. The primary purpose was to observe differences between those in programs and those not in programs. The team also sought to analyze the effects of other factors, including type of program, age, education, and race. The results demonstrate changes in violent beliefs due to a variety of factors, including involvement in certain types of programs, age, and the jail setting itself. What is more, these findings suggest numerous avenues for further research.