Literature review identifies themes in highly cited works on correctional education, suggesting impacts on recidivism and personal development.
This paper examines the ten most highly cited articles published in the Journal of Correctional Education (JCE) to identify and understand the most dominant themes, trends and research topics shaping the field of correctional education. Using a citation-based sampling strategy and qualitative content analysis, this literature review highlights the main focus of highly cited research on reducing recidivism, improving academic and vocational outcomes, and supporting personal development among incarcerated individuals. The findings reveal that correctional education is consistently associated with positive outcomes for incarcerated individuals, cost savings, and enhanced reintegration prospects. Guided by the research questions - What are the dominant themes or topics explored in the ten most cited articles in the Journal of Correctional Education? and - To what extent do the most cited articles engage with practice, policy, or theoretical development in correctional education? - this study provides insights into the scholarly contributions that have most significantly influenced the field.
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Justin Heenan (2025) studied this question.
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