ABSTRACT
Examining students' motivations within the larger context of their imprisonment experiences offers insight into how educational interests may develop in prison. Recovery from addictions, the experience of undergoing counselling, encouragement received from prisoners and from staff, increased self-confidence gained through other prison activities and roles, and exposure to new projects and possibilities, can all lead to a decision to pursue education. A stimulating environment in prison can, it seems, spark new interests and open up new horizons for prisoners to pursue. On an institutional level, reduced pay for education, limited scope for educational study, limited financial resources and disruptive environments, can all serve to diminish or discourage educational enterprise. The students' studies have informed their work, for example, as prison Listeners, as editors and writers on prison magazines, and in a number of cases, as peer tutors, teaching literacy and numeracy to fellow prisoners.
