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Madison Haugland
Professor Alzen
ENG 123
17 January 2016
Annotated Bibliography
Burnett, R. and Maruna, S. 2004. So prison works, does it? The criminal careers of 130 men
released from prison under Home Secretary, Michael Howard. Howard Journal of
Criminal Justice , 43(4), 390 404.
Written a little over 10 years ago, this article is still very qualified by its access to
documented information with Home Secretary, Michael Howard. This source challenges
the 1990s doctrine that prison works. This follow up study of the 1990s claim shows
the majority of subsequent criminal careers are heavily impacted by imprisonment in a
devastatingly negative way. Burnett and Maruna analyze the effects of imprisonment
upon these ex-prisoners. In addition, they discuss the limitations of rational choice
theory as a basis for understanding recidivism and abandoning crime. I will use this
source to suggest this idea of prison works as a reason why we have gotten to the
problem of mass incarceration today. I can also use it to show the detrimental effects of
mass imprisonment upon society at large by analyzing the lives these men were capable
of leading after their release.

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Cullen, Francis T., and Shannon A. Santana. "Rehabilitation." Encyclopedia of Crime and
Justice. Ed. Joshua Dressler. 2nd ed. Vol. 3. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2002.
1314-1327. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 10 Jan. 2016.
The reliability of this source is only weekend by its age. Being published in 2002, this
encyclopedia relies a lot on 1990s data which may not be as accurate for today.
However, despite this flaw, the principles that Cullen develops are transcendent and can
be used to establish the history of the problem and some attempted solutions. He
discusses the idea of rehabilitation very thoroughly and the forums through which that
takes place. Education programs are focused on as one of the major influences. His
research suggests that the more educated a prisoner becomes their recidivism rate
decreases. Cullen argues that because there is a clear correlation between these two
events, education should be pushed and improved if we truly want society to change. Just
as Cullen argues this so will I within my essay. Connecting the evidence of better
education to better lives for ex-felons is crucial in showing the positive effects of
education. Because I am discussing how Americas voices are being silent, I can use this
article to show real lives that have been effected by the education system within the
prison.
Duguid, S. 1981. Prison education and criminal choice: the context of decision making.
Canadian Journal of Criminology , 23(4), 421 38. Web. 10 Jan. 2016
Even though this is an older article and addresses Canadian prisoners and prisons, the
principles addressed are still valid. Duguid is cited in a myriad of other works related to
this field, including two of my other sources here in this annotated bibliography. He

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discusses how education can be pivotal in a prisoners ability to make different decisions
in the future, ones that will not lead to further criminal activity. Duguid describes the two
essential elements prison systems need: an essential concern of ethics or morality and a
goal of the development of thought itself. I can use this as evidence of the difference
education can really make in a released felons life, in my essay. Their ability to
communicate should not be denied them and it should be offered effectively. I can also
draw solutions to the problem of mass incarceration from this article because it describes
the model program developed by the University of Victoria at Matsqui Institution, which
has shown results in significantly different behavior.
Esperian, John H. "The Effect Of Prison Education Programs On Recidivism." Journal Of
Correctional Education 61.4 (2010): 316-334. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Jan.
2016.
This more recent journal was published by The Correctional Education Association
(CEA), founded in 1945, as a non-profit, professional association serving educators and
administrators who provide services to students in correctional settings. The CEA is the
largest affiliate of the American Correctional Association. This type of backing brings
legitimacy to the article. Esperian suggests that with the tight budget constraints, prisons
are being closely monitored to find any way to cut costs and save money. He supports the
argument for the profitability for states to fund education classes for inmates, for two
reasons: doing so reduces recidivism dramatically and because educating felons
eliminates the costs associated with long term warehousing. Because this study
researches felons attitudes and the perks of education in general it offers a variety of
support and evidence. I can use those two topics to show how valuable education is to

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improve someone criminal or not. The interviews with professional men and women
directly involved in the education of the incarcerated within this journal are incredible
references and quotable material for my essay to further prove the value of education and
its impact on recidivism.
Evans, Kim M. "Correctional Facilities: Prisons and Jails." Crime, Prisons, and Jails. 2009 ed.
Detroit: Gale, 2009. 87-99. Information Plus Reference Series. Gale Virtual Reference
Library. Web. 10 Jan. 2016.
This book was published fairly recently just in 2009 and all of its research and numbers
are very up to date, which makes it a valuable source. Evans first develops the history of
the problem surrounding prisons and the process of reform it has undergone in the past.
Then after assessing the inmates at mid-year 2007, Evans created numerous tables which
will be very useful for concrete factual statistics dealing with a variety of things from the
percentage of prisoners increased from 6 months ago to what percentage of prisoners are
actual using employment resources. Evans analyzes very exact and thorough research. It
will be easy to draw from this source when setting up the history of the problem of
incarceration and introducing its dire implications. I will use this source to appeal to the
logos of the issue of mass incarceration and utilize the statistics to effectively show how
grim the situation is.
Haugen, David M, and Susan Musser. Juvenile Justice. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Internet
resource. Web. 10 Jan. 2016
This volume is part of a series called the Teen Rights and Freedoms, which studies how
legal rights are impacting the lives specifically of young American teens. Because the

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history of the juvenile system is thoroughly outlined here it is a great source to introduce
the problem of mass incarceration and how it relates to minors in particular. I could use it
to show that prisons are not just jailing middle-aged men who should be smart by now
but also kids who havent experienced their full education yet. The material presented in
this volume is all from primary sources and secondary sources with emphasis on pivotal
court decisions. In addition, the interview with a mother of an incarcerated teen is
something I plan to use to get a new emotional perspective outside of researchers with no
emotional ties. I will use these personal accounts to draw on the pathos of readers more
and show the devastating effects that mass incarceration is posing to the youth and hence
future generations of Americans.
Hughes, Emma. Education in Prison: Studying Through Distance Learning. Farnham: Ashgate
Publishing Ltd, 2012. Internet resource.
This source is very new and so the research is modern, accurate, and updated. Hughes
book unpacks the motivations and the disincentives for education within the prison
system, prisoners' decisions regarding education, how to build a culture of learning
within the prison, and the values of education for felons return to society. Hughes has
created a distinctive contribution to an under-researched issue, leading to her explanation
of further course of action. I can use this source to explain why not or why the education
system within prisons is effective. In addition, I can argue that the degree of effectiveness
directly correlates with prisoners ability to communicate and contribute to society as
responsible citizens. Because Hughes discusses both sides of the argument, the source is
more useful and void of bias. Furthermore, I can use Hughes input when discussing
solutions, for she devotes a whole section to solutions of this issue.

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Nunn, Robin L. "Lock Them Up And Throw Away The Vote." Chicago Journal Of International
Law 5.(2005): 763. LexisNexis Academic: Law Reviews. Web. 10 Jan. 2016.
Published within the last decade, this up-to-date scholarly article was accepted for
inclusion in Chicago Journal of International Law. The issue of prisoners and former
prisoners being denied the right to vote is addressed here as an encroachment upon the
democratic process. Nunn outlines how the laws of certain states are disenfranchising
nearly five million free US citizens from casting a vote. Fourteen states permanently
disenfranchise ex-felons, thirty-five states exclude felons on parole, thirty-one states
disqualify those on probation, and forty-eight states and the District of Columbia deny
the vote to all convicted felons in prison. I can use these numerous examples to prove that
mass incarceration is striping away the rights of American citizens to vote, which shuts
them up. This source can be utilized as a great reference point for all the laws that are
quieting many of Americas voices. Nunns blatancy is pivotal in the ability to show the
facts as they are without hiding them. This is a major example of how mass incarceration
is changing the culture of America by silencing the opinions and eliminating literally
millions of citizens fundamental rights.
Rankin, Carole E. "Illiterate Prisoners? Myths And Empirical Realities." Journal Of Offender
Rehabilitation 41.2 (2005): 43-55. PsycINFO. Web. 24 Jan. 2016.
Published within the last decade, this scholarly article was written by Senior Research
Analyst of the Program Evaluation Section of the Office of Research and Planning.
Rankins knowledge of these matters outmatch mostly everyone due to his hands on
experience. Rankin challenges the notion that prisoners are severely illiterate. He shows

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this to be a myth with only 10-11% scoring below grade five. This study specifically took
place in Michigan, but the statistics were compared to national data from other states
which show similar results. He urges Departments of Corrections to review these myths
of illiteracy with suspicion. Even though Rankin utilized the 10-11% statistic to aid his
argument that illiteracy isnt an issue, I still believe it is. If a fifth grade reading level is
the standard and anything above that is merely good enough, that is imposing such a great
limitation upon the minds of felons. In addition, if those coming out of prison cannot
express themselves their voices are just as silent as they were when they were locked up.
I can either use this source like I explain above or I could use it as a possible
counterargument of my essay and rebuttal it with other information.
Vacca, James S.. Educated Prisoners Are Less Likely to Return to Prison. Journal of
Correctional Education 55.4 (2004): 297305. Web. 10 Jan. 2016
Written just a little over 10 years ago, the information in the article is still very relevant.
It is also published by The Correctional Education Association (CEA), founded in 1945,
as a non-profit, professional association serving educators and administrators who
provide services to students in correctional settings. The CEA is the largest affiliate of the
American Correctional Association. This type of backing brings legitimacy to the article.
Vacca explains that prisoners that participate in educational programs while incarcerated
are less likely to return to prison after they are released. Not only does Vacca make
connects with recidivism but also that participation leads to less violence within the
prison. Because Vacca highlights more than just one of the perks of effective education
programs and what components make them a success, this article serves as a roadmap to
more improvement. Vaccas insight will definitely influence one of my proposed

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solutions for this research paper. I will draw from this source when explain solutions that
people in the field are already talking about as well as more evidence linking education to
recidivism.

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