An Evaluation of Tablet-Based Education in Two State Prisons

Overview & Synopsis

The pandemic created significant barriers to delivering education services and programs in prison, prompting many correctional administrations to consider the use of tablet-based education. The present study accordingly used a tablet-based survey to explore the tablet-based education experiences among people who are incarcerated. The present study unites and builds on literature regarding education and recidivism and tablet-based education in prison to explore the demographic characteristics, relationships, criminal justice experiences, and educational experiences of tablet users using tablet-based education while incarcerated in one of two state prison administrations. Taken together, findings from the authors' survey indicate that, in comparison with prison populations nationwide tablet users were younger, better educated, less likely to have been involved with state child protective services as a minor, and more likely to be first-time offenders than their peers in prison nationwide. As prisons continue to expand tablet-based education, they should be mindful of the strong preference among incarcerated people both for in-person instruction and the reality that providing additional opportunities to those already most likely to succeed creates a self-fulfilling prophecy that has little to do with this educational technology.