Informed Consent Form
Preparing for Success After Prison (PSAP) Program Evaluation
You are being asked to participate in an evaluation of the Preparing for Success After Prison (PSAP) program. You were selected as a possible participant in this evaluation because you have signed up to participate in the PSAP program. Your participation in the evaluation is VOLUNTARY. Thus, you may choose to not participate in the evaluation, and still participate in the PSAP program. Your participation in this evaluation will not affect your relationship with any criminal justice, treatment, parole/probation or other agency that you are or may become involved with.
Why is this evaluation being done?
As part of the PSAP program we are conducting this evaluation to assess the impact that the PSAP program has on those participating in this program.
What will happen if I take part in this evaluation?
If you volunteer to participate in this evaluation, we will ask that you complete two surveys that you will fill out on your own. The first survey will become available to you upon consenting to participate in this evaluation. The second survey will become available either upon completion of the PSAP program or three months later, depending on which comes first. Both surveys will include questions that assess levels of hope, self-efficacy, problem-solving skills, motivation to change, interpersonal trust, well-being, empathy, and emotional intelligence. The second survey will also ask you to provide feedback on the PSAP program.
How long will I be in this evaluation?
You will be enrolled in this evaluation for about 3 months and each survey will take approximately 15 to 30 minutes to complete.
Are there any potential risks or discomforts that I can expect from this evaluation?
Although the risks associated with this study are minimal, it is possible that you may feel embarrassed or upset in response to some of the questions in the survey. If at any time you feel uncomfortable, you may simply choose not to answer those questions without any consequences to your participation in this evaluation. There is also minimal risk of the loss of data security and confidentiality but as described below in the confidentiality section the research team has taken several steps to prevent this from happening.
Are there any potential benefits if I participate?
You will not directly benefit from your participation in this research study. However, the findings from this study may provide useful guidance about developing effective rehabilitative programming for women and men in criminal justice settings.
Will I be paid for participating?
You will not be paid for participating.
Will information about me and my participation be kept confidential?
We are committed to ensuring the utmost confidentiality of your responses and will take all necessary measures to protect your data. All individuals involved in this evaluation have received training on maintaining confidentiality. None of the surveys you complete will include your name or any identifying information. Your survey responses will automatically be entered into a secured database platform maintained by Edovo after you submit the survey. Our evaluator, Dr. Stacy Calhoun from the University of California, Los Angeles, will receive de-identified survey responses for data analysis, meaning that she will not have access to any personal identifying information about you. Any data reported in publications or reports will be presented in aggregate form, further ensuring that individual participants cannot be identified.
What are my rights if I take part in this evaluation?
Your participation in this evaluation is voluntary. Your decision to participate or not participate in this evaluation will not affect your relationship with any criminal justice and/or treatment agency that you are or become involved with. You can leave at any time and you can refuse to answer any questions you don’t want to answer.
Who can I contact if I have questions about this evaluation?
If you have any questions or concerns about the evaluation, please feel free to contact the Executive Director of the Prison Professors Charitable Corporation. His information is provided below:
| Name | Contact number |
| Michael Santos | [email protected] Prison Professors 32565 Golden Lantern, Suite B1026 Dana Point, CA 92629 415-419-1728 |
To indicate your agreement to participate in the online survey, please proceed by clicking the “Consent” button to be taken to the first survey.
If you do not want to participate in the evaluation, please proceed by clicking the “Do Not Consent” button to be taken to the first module of the PSAP program.
