Higher Education in Prison: A Comparative Policy Analysis of Five Countries

Overview & Synopsis

This analysis explores how higher education in prison policies impact educational access for incarcerated populations in five different national contexts: Australia, Nigeria, South Africa, the UK, and the USA. Employing an analytic policy borrowing framework, the study explores how the stated goals of higher education in prison, such as reduced recidivism and savings on public spending, translate into the actual provision of and access to education in carceral contexts. Findings reveal that while the stated purposes of higher education in prison are often consistent across national contexts, differences in funding structures and educational delivery methods significantly impact the contours of access for incarcerated people to higher education opportunities.