Colorado Library Consortium

Colorado State Library and Colorado Library Consortium, with partners RSL Research Group and Colorado Department of Corrections, will plan a statewide outcome-assessment of prison libraries. The planning project will determine how best to assess prison library contributions to offenders' development of pro-social behaviors that help them stay occupied productively and out of trouble while incarcerated and maximize their chances of successful re? entry into the community. This project will fill a gap in research on evidence-based practices for correctional libraries and accommodate the complexities of the secure corrections environment. The research design will generate actionable data that informs stakeholders of library contributions to offender behavior management and re-entry preparation, and will help them understand their individual roles and responsibilities for participation in the planning project and planned study.