Waterbury, VT – The Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC), University of Vermont (UVM), and Urban Institute today released the third and final round of survey findings from the Prison Research and Innovation Network (PRIN). PRIN is part of a six-year national initiative supported by Arnold Ventures to prompt data-driven innovation and improve the climate of correctional facilities for those who live and work there.
Correctional facilities are among the most understudied public institutions in America. Through surveys administered to staff and incarcerated individuals, PRIN provides critical insight into the climate of correctional facilities across the nation and shares these findings with the public.
The Vermont PRIN surveys were administered to incarcerated individuals and correctional staff at Southern State Correctional Facility (SSCF) in Springfield, Vermont. The surveys were administered in June 2021, June 2022, and March 2024.
The first two surveys highlighted significant mental health challenges facing staff and incarcerated individuals, low staff morale, and differing perspectives of the two groups regarding the primary purpose of prisons. The March 2024 survey results show significant improvements for staff, while responses from the incarcerated population remain similar to previous surveys.
“Data from surveys like this are invaluable to us as we work to identify how prisons can be more humane and focus more on rehabilitation,” said David Pitts, Vice President of Justice Policy at the Urban Institute. “We are grateful to the Vermont DOC for being open to learning from incarcerated people and staff, and to UVM for bringing its top-notch expertise to bear on these issues.”
With a 70% response rate from correctional staff, the March 2024 results showed large improvements in correctional staff job satisfaction and workplace culture. Sixty-five percent of staff respondents said they often or always look forward to coming to work, and 85% of respondents reported they agree or strongly agree they take pride in their job. The survey reiterated that mandatory overtime and staff mental health continue to be significant challenges at the facility.
With an 83% response rate from incarcerated individuals, responses showed improvements in access to activities that promote well-being and growth and increased emotional support amongst incarcerated individuals. Preparation for release is still perceived negatively by those incarcerated, as is timely access to medical care and costs associated with phone calls and commissary.
To read the full survey findings, visit https://www.uvm.edu/d10-files/documents/2024-08/2024_vtprin_fullresults…
Through the PRIN surveys, SSCF piloted several innovations, to include the creation of an Honors Unit and coffee shop, which is staffed by incarcerated Vermonters. Both initiatives have yielded positive responses from staff and provided incarcerated individuals with increased autonomy and agency, two privileges not historically afforded to individuals incarcerated in America.
"These data show how vital community-engaged research in prisons is for creating awareness of the issues and driving meaningful change,” said UVM researchers Abby Crocker and Kathy Fox. “We are grateful to the incarcerated individuals and correctional staff in SSCF who have shared their voices and expertise as part of this study. The survey results highlight the complexity of challenges impacting people in the corrections system, as well as the pressing need for substantive change.”
The national PRIN initiative ends in 2024, but DOC and UVM are exploring methods to expand research inside Vermont correctional facilities and further opportunities for partnership.
“PRIN continues to serve as a critical window into the experiences of correctional staff and incarcerated individuals in Vermont,” said Nicholas Deml, Commissioner of the Department of Corrections. “PRIN empowers us to imagine small and large improvements for our system to improve these critical public institutions for those who live and work inside the walls. I am deeply grateful for our partnership with UVM and the Urban Institute and look forward to future chapters of this initiative.”
To learn more about the national PRIN initiative, visit https://www.urban.org/projects/prison-research-and-innovation-initiativ….
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