%0 Journal Article
%T Women¡¯s Voices: An Appreciative Inquiry of Off
%A Amy B. Murphy-Nugen
%A Michelle A. Frerich
%J Affilia
%@ 1552-3020
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/0886109918796250
%X Using an appreciative inquiry method, this study explored the experiences of women who participated in off-site postsecondary correctional education (PSCE). Semistructured interviews were conducted with four women who participated in study release, a program in which women who are incarcerated are permitted to leave the prison facility on a daily basis in order to attend postsecondary education courses at a nearby university or community college. Findings indicate one unifying theme among study participants: the restoration of one¡¯s humanity through participation in PSCE. Connected to this unifying theme are two subthemes: (1) restoration of self and (2) restoration of connection and community. Implications for policy, practice, and research are discussed, including involving women and women¡¯s voices in advocacy efforts to shape correctional policy from a punitive to restorative approach, offering choice of study in PSCE, providing PSCE opportunities that are off-site, fostering connections among PSCE participants and those who support them, and considering measures beyond recidivism to measure PSCE success. Limitations and suggestions for future research are addressed
%K appreciative inquiry
%K college
%K incarceration
%K prison
%K postsecondary education
%K women
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0886109918796250