Words Within Walls: A Scoping Review of Prison-Based Creative Writing.

Area of Science:

• Criminology
• Psychology
• Education

Background:

• Creative writing programs offer prisoners avenues for self-expression and rehabilitation.
• Existing literature lacks comprehensive summaries on program types, providers, and rigorous evaluations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of creative writing initiatives in prisons.
• To examine the characteristics and efficacy of these programs.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of 56 sources, including peer-reviewed articles, dissertations, book chapters, and reports.
• Analysis focused on program characteristics, providers, target audiences, and evaluation methods.

Main Results:

• Most studies originated from the U.S., Australia, and the U.K., often run by universities or charities.
• Demographic data and rigorous evaluations were frequently absent; evaluations relied heavily on self-reports and work analysis.

Conclusions:

• Creative writing programs show potential for improving prisoner wellbeing.
• There is a critical need for more robust research to establish effectiveness, identify best practices, and inform policy.