From the Inside Out and Outside In: Team Research in the Correctional Setting

Abstract

Correctional research has traditionally relied on one of three approaches: 1) academic "experts" looking inward to prison organizations, personnel and inmates' 2) insiders (inmates and staff) looking out to inform the academic community; or 3) academics attempting to experience the correctional world. However, the most advantageous approach has rarely been utilized: team research by insiders and outsiders. This paper both advocates and serves to exemplify how academics and inmates can pool their expertise, perspectives and efforts to produce valid and valuable correctional research. An outline of such a team approach, identification of advantages and disadvantages, suggestions for team construction and authors' personal reflections of the process are discussed.