Event Title
Lasting Impacts of the Inside-out Prison Exchange Program: Following up with Former Students
Location
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
Description
PURPOSE: The purpose of this project is to demonstrate a better understanding of the overall impact of the Inside-Out program, a recent development for Grand Valley which allows students to integrate and learn with qualified prison inmates. The 3-credit course allowed students to learn about prisons and corrections in a unique way. Students attended class at the Michigan Reformatory in Ionia, Michigan, and students included GVSU students and residents of the Michigan Reformatory. Prisoners and outside students interacted, shared experiences, and learned together, university-level material. SUBJECTS: Current and former GVSU students who completed the Inside-Out course between 2010 and 2012. A total of 50 GVSU students completed the course and were contacted for study participation. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Students were contacted via email regarding their experience during the course and asked to complete a survey consisting of 10 open-ended questions regarding thoughts and experiences of their course participation. ANALYSES: Qualitative data analysis of the open-ended responses was conducted. An open-coding scheme was used to record any themes that emerged from the data. Emergent themes were then applied iteratively to all responses. Multiple coders were used to ensure inter-rater reliability of the analysis. RESULTS: The data analysis indicated that students found the course valuable, were able to use what they learned in the course in their subsequent GVSU courses, and were also able to use knowledge and experiences gained through the course in their criminal justice-related positions in the field. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the student responses and the high value they placed on the course, the Inside-Out course is a valuable addition to the CJ curriculum, and one, if possible, in which more students should participate. The program is beneficial to students in their subsequent college courses, graduate work, and their work in the criminal justice field.
Lasting Impacts of the Inside-out Prison Exchange Program: Following up with Former Students
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
PURPOSE: The purpose of this project is to demonstrate a better understanding of the overall impact of the Inside-Out program, a recent development for Grand Valley which allows students to integrate and learn with qualified prison inmates. The 3-credit course allowed students to learn about prisons and corrections in a unique way. Students attended class at the Michigan Reformatory in Ionia, Michigan, and students included GVSU students and residents of the Michigan Reformatory. Prisoners and outside students interacted, shared experiences, and learned together, university-level material. SUBJECTS: Current and former GVSU students who completed the Inside-Out course between 2010 and 2012. A total of 50 GVSU students completed the course and were contacted for study participation. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Students were contacted via email regarding their experience during the course and asked to complete a survey consisting of 10 open-ended questions regarding thoughts and experiences of their course participation. ANALYSES: Qualitative data analysis of the open-ended responses was conducted. An open-coding scheme was used to record any themes that emerged from the data. Emergent themes were then applied iteratively to all responses. Multiple coders were used to ensure inter-rater reliability of the analysis. RESULTS: The data analysis indicated that students found the course valuable, were able to use what they learned in the course in their subsequent GVSU courses, and were also able to use knowledge and experiences gained through the course in their criminal justice-related positions in the field. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the student responses and the high value they placed on the course, the Inside-Out course is a valuable addition to the CJ curriculum, and one, if possible, in which more students should participate. The program is beneficial to students in their subsequent college courses, graduate work, and their work in the criminal justice field.