For most people, education is the key to unlocking new, previously closed doors. Therefore, it is important for everyone to have access to it and why education in the prison system is a good method to help inmates develop their abilities and teach them things they can use outside of prison. Instead of keeping inmates behind bars for the remainder of their lives, prisons should aim to educate inmates, help them learn from their mistakes, and prepare them for life outside the carceral system.
According to studies by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, freed inmates have high rates of recidivism. Approximately two-thirds (67.8%) of freed inmates were imprisoned again within three years of release, and more than three-quarters (76.6%) were arrested again within five years, according to research that followed 404,638 offenders across 30 states following their release from jail. The first year following release saw more over half (56.7%) of these rearrests. However, recidivism rates are 43% lower for offenders who take part in prison education programs. The recidivism rate is in fact lower than the degree: 14% for those with an associate degree, 5.6% for those with a bachelor’s, and 0% for those with a masters.
The following article provides information about the benefits of prison education –Benefits of Prison Education | The Hope-Western Prison Education Program
