Baltimore Pre-release Unit for Women

During the spring of 2004, Elizabeth Krimmel, a Woodrow Wilson Fellow at the Johns Hopkins University, began research on women who participated in the Power/Excel program at Baltimore Pre-release Unit for Women and were released between the years 2001 and 2005.

Purpose
The study was to determine the effectiveness of the Power/Excel curriculum on reducing recidivism among the female inmates.  Recidivism means re-arrest for a new crime within 3 years of release.  Nationally approximately 58% of women recidivate during a 3-year period.

Results
“Women who participated in Power/Excel during incarceration recidivated at a rate of 40 %, which is nearly 20% lower than the national average for female offenders.”*

*"Although research is preliminary and further research will be necessary to draw a final conclusion, the study shows that Power/Excel is definitely making an impact." - Elizabeth Krimmel