Inmate Attitudes about Prison Tours for Students

Abstract

Correctional facility tours are common within criminal justice programs as a way for students to experience real-world criminal justice. While tours have received praise for solidifying learning, they have also been criticized for objectification of inmates. In this research, individuals who were incarcerated in a Midwestern state were surveyed about their attitudes toward students touring prisons. While participants, in general, viewed tours favorably, one theme underscored the need to include the voices of incarcerees in the schedule of prison tours.