Research on education in prisons: a scoping review

Abstract

This paper presents a scoping review of relevant literature to characterise research on education in prisons. After reviewing 353 peer-reviewed articles spanning 10 years of research, we conclude that research on education in prisons in global research databases (i) is dominated by qualitative studies, (ii) is primarily focused on the English-speaking world, and (iii) shows a relatively strong representation of women. Eight research themes are presented in this paper, where we discuss what characterises research on education in prisons. Two main characteristics emerge: education in prisons as a phenomenon that needs to be justified, and education in prisons as a phenomenon that contributes to the imprisoned individual’s restoration. Finally, we offer suggestions for future research within this field.