Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 4-28-2025
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Public Policy Leadership
First Advisor
Melissa Bass
Second Advisor
Kyle Fritz
Third Advisor
John Sammonds
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Growing support for higher education in prison has sparked much conversation regarding the challenges and benefits of the programs and their implementation. In Mississippi, this has become an increasingly prevalent issue as the incarcerated population continues to grow and programs continue to be limited in accessibility. Mississippi’s incarcerated population deserves the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills through higher education to better themselves individually and better their communities upon release. However, Mississippi faces unique challenges in its prison system, preventing the benefits of these programs from showing. The purpose of this study is to gain insight into the challenges and benefits of implementing higher education programs in the Mississippi state prison system. To explore these challenges and benefits, I interviewed three individuals from the field of study for this study. From these interviews, I identified four significant challenges to implementation: lack of access to technology, security and staffing issues, unreliable funding, and negative public perception. Additionally, I found three significant benefits of implementation: reducing recidivism, improving employment outcomes, and positive student outcomes. I then used these findings to develop three policy recommendations to overcome the implementation challenges and furtherthe benefits. My three recommendations were expanding technology infrastructure incorrectional facilities, diversifying funding beyond federal Pell Grants, launching public awareness campaigns to reduce stigma, and more directly involving lawmakers by inviting them to prison graduation ceremonies.
Recommended Citation
Ratliff, Elizabeth F., "The Implementation of Higher Education in the Prison System in Mississippi: The Challenges and Benefits" (2025). Honors Theses. 3306.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3306
Included in
Education Policy Commons, Prison Education and Reentry Commons, Secondary Education Commons
