Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) With Incarcerated Women: Exploring the Role of Prison Activities as a Determinant of Preparedness for Re-entry

This study was part of a 5-year Prison Research and Innovation Network (PRIN) project to explore the shared perceptions of the prison climate among incarcerated women. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) was used to partner with incarcerated women as equal partners in the project. Focus group interviews were conducted with the incarcerated women in the fall of 2020. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify incarcerated women’s perceptions of prison climate in the correctional facility. An item pool was developed from the themes identified, and a new prison climate survey was administered to 436 incarcerated women. Structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the relationship between prison activity, correctional practices, and preparedness for re-entry. The results indicated the importance of prison activities, as incarcerated women who reported that the prison offers sufficient activities were more likely to feel supported and had a more positive view of the board of parole, which were in turn associated with preparedness for re-entry. Policies targeted toward creating prison activities and programs for re-entry should become a priority for prison leadership and the department of corrections.