Postsecondary Educational Engagement Among Formerly-Incarcerated Transition-Age Young Men

Abstract

In this study, the authors explore correlates of engagement in postsecondary educational programs (including technical/trade schools, 2-year colleges, and 4-year colleges) among young men who served mandatory probation camp sentences as juveniles. A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted with a sample of 75 men (average age of 20.5) who had participated in a reentry program associated with the probation camp. Among the sample, 34.7% had not attempted any postsecondary education, 52.0% had attempted but not completed a program, and 13.3% had completed a postsecondary program, most commonly a technical/trade school certificate. Using multinomial logistic regression analysis, the authors found that controlling for high school/GED completion status, age, and months of participation in the reentry program, fathers were significantly less likely to attempt a postsecondary education program than those who were not fathers (OR =.14; p <.05). Neither employment history nor subsequent number of times incarcerated had any significant influence on attempting or completing a postsecondary educational program. These results have implications for reentry services, particularly with respect to the types of support that young fathers may need to more consistently engage in postsecondary educational programs.