William James Association

The prison arts project conducts art workshops for incarcerated individuals. Two studies show benefits to society. A cost benefit analysis demonstrates that the benefits of the art program exceed the cost through reduced disciplinaries for inmates. A recidivism study conducted by the ca dept. Of corrections shows recidivism is halved for inmates who participate in the arts program for 6 months following incarceration. Two other workshop programs with incarcerated or at risk youth show similar results on the local level. Artistic creation demands self discipline, problem solving, cooperation, empathy, and goodwill towards others, all of which are of use to members of these populations both during incarceration and after release.