The University of Missouri has announced a $2.8 million grant from Arnold Ventures in support of a research project that aims to help transform the ways people live and work in four Missouri prisons.

Awarded to Missouri professor Kelli Canada and her team, the project builds on Canada’s recent Prison Research and Innovation Network (PRIN) project, which used a community-engaged research model to bring together Moberly Correctional Center staff members and prison residents to improve prison conditions. The five-year project has four key components: staff training, including the importance of empathetic listening and using more humanizing language; changes to physical spaces within prisons, including increased privacy for residents and increased access to outdoor spaces; personal skill-building for residents, such as budgeting money and cooking meals; and increased community connections.

“When you look at the data, specifically regarding prison re-entry, it’s clear to see something isn’t working,” said Canada. “I’m passionate about improving the conditions for those who live and work inside prisons, and my ultimate goal is to help incarcerated individuals re-enter society with the skills and resources they need to be successful long-term.”

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