Censorship, Surveillance, and Higher Education in Prisons

Kurtis Tanaka; Ess Pokornowski

doi:10.5860/jifp.v8i2.7925

Censorship, Surveillance, and Higher Education in Prisons

Kurtis Tanaka, Ess Pokornowski

Abstract

Since the launch of the Department of Education’s Second Chance Pell experimental sites initiative in 2016, there has been a massive growth in the number of higher education in prison (HEP) programs. With the full restoration of Pell grant eligibility for students in prison having taken place on July 1, 2023, we will likely see college programming continue to grow in the coming years. However, colleges that operate within prisons are subject to oversight by the relevant Department of Corrections (DOC), and, in many cases, undergo the same or similar media review procedures as people receiving mail or books from outside their facility. With reading lists and syllabi subject to review and approval by DOC staff, it is of paramount importance to understand how prison censorship policies intersect with the intellectual freedom that is required for a true, high quality college education. Based on research conducted by Ithaka S+R, we offer here some key observations on the policy landscape in which HEP programs operate and how instructors navigate this censorious learning environment.

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References

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5860/jifp.v8i2.7925

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