Breaking Through: Surveying the Experiences of Social and Behavioral Science Researchers Working in Correctional Environments

Although barriers to conducting correctional research are familiar to those who do this work, there have been no known efforts to document the challenges reported by social and behavioral science researchers across the United States. Quantitative and qualitative analyses from 83 respondents revealed barriers mostly centered on concerns or constraints by a partnering correctional agency; however, few respondents reported issues with the agency’s willingness to collaborate. The extent of barriers was not associated with researchers’ career level, age, years of experience, or employment setting. Despite challenges, participants were primarily motivated to do this work by their interests in addressing social justice issues. Researchers’ strategies for conducting research in correctional settings and experiences publishing their work are also presented. Quantitative and qualitative results support the need to allocate better resources to correctional researchers and agencies if the goal is to improve our criminal justice system more effectively and efficiently.