“Something Works,” PSTC economist Peter Hull and his collaborators Marcella Alsan, Arkey Barnett, and Crystal S. Yang concluded in their recently co-authored paper. Pushing back against rehabilitative skepticism in the U.S. correctional system, the researchers found that the innovative rehabilitation program “Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education” (IGNITE) led to a reduction in rates of jail recidivism and misconduct, while strengthening community trust.
First implemented in Flint, Michigan, in 2021, IGNITE offered nearly all incarcerated people daily educational programming, tailored to each individual’s needs. Per the paper’s finding, one additional month of IGNITE exposure led to a 25% reduction in both three-month recidivism and jail misconduct.
By increasing educational attainment, often as much as a full grade level in math and reading, incarcerated individuals who participated in the program exited the carceral system with improved skill sets, making them more likely to break through the cycle of recidivism. However, these favorable impacts can be attributed to factors beyond the specific skills learned in the classroom, the researchers argue.
“The broad cultural shift within the jail also may have likely played a role in reducing misconduct and recidivism,” says Peter Hull. For instance, in Flint, community members exposed to the IGNITE program reported more positive perceptions of law enforcement, and correctional staff likewise had favorable reviews of the program.
“IGNITE administrators broadly see the ‘cultural change’ of IGNITE as a success and are optimistic that it will continue to foster good relationships between the jail and community going forward,” Hull explains. In 2022, the IGNITE program was expanded to include courses in art, creative writing, mental health, mindfulness, and music.
Adopted by the National Sherriff's Assocation almost three years ago, NSA will now partner with IGNITE administrators to expand the program nationwide. Of the 2 million incarcerated individuals in the U.S., 600,000 are held in local jails. By increasing educational and community enrichment opportunities for these populations within the criminal justice system, programs such as IGNITE could see a long-term reduction in the harms experienced by individuals while incarcerated.
“Given the evidence we've seen so far in Flint, I'm hopeful that these new programs will also help to improve educational outcomes and reduce recidivism, but time will tell,” says Hull. “My coauthors and I are looking forward to studying the rollout as it unfolds.”
