Higher Education in Prison

For many individuals, going to prison results in the ending of their potential. Based on the high rate of recidivism, many individuals who go to jails and prisons go on to commit more crimes and land back in jail or prison.

However, making one mistake and being locked up should not mean the end of a person’s life. However, very often, this becomes the case. Many individuals are initially drawn into crime due to the lack of available opportunities. When they emerge from jail or prison, there are often even fewer opportunities for them. 

Background Checks

Many employers conduct routine background checks on applicants. If they see a conviction, especially for a serious crime, they may be hesitant to give a person with a conviction in his or her background an opportunity. While there are rules against blanket policies against convicted individuals, it is still commonplace for employers to check the backgrounds of applicants and rule out those who have certain criminal records. 

This practice is also carried out by many landlords. Federal housing is restricted to those who have certain criminal records. With nowhere to work and nowhere safe to live, many individuals go on to continue additional crimes. 

Recidivism Statistics

As one example of the high potential for repeat crime, Texas stands out. Texas has the fourth highest prison population. In 2008, 47.2 percent of individuals who were released from prison were rearrested within three years. This figure was even higher for individuals who had been locked up in state jails. For this latter statistical figure, 62.7 percent of individuals were arrested within the three-year time period.

Legislative Action

In the early 1990s former President Clinton passed a bill that expanded the prison system to a dramatic degree. He had a “tough” on crime stance that also came with a hefty price tag. To house each prisoner, the toll was approximately $60,000. 

In addition to the expanse of the prison system, federal student aid programs for inmates were eradicated. However, this change brought about negative consequences to prisoners. When prison education programs were in place, reincarceration rates were 46 percent lower when compared to individuals who did not participate in such programs. 

Various governors have supported education initiatives. They have proposed budgets that include new college programs that would be available at various prisons throughout their states. Such programs have gained wide support from voters in minority communities which tend to make up a disproportionate amount of incarcerated individuals. 

Argument Against Programs

Some voters take great issue with such educational initiatives. They may struggle to send their own children to college and may question the prudence of providing this free resource to criminals when they do not have access to these resources themselves. Many families are unable to secure a college education for their children without having to take on large amounts of student loan debt. 

Benefits of Educational Programs

Educational programs do provide a number of key benefits. By allowing inmates to better themselves while behind bars, they are more likely to have greater opportunities when they are released. Participating in such programs can also demonstrate that participating inmates took a bad situation and made the most of it, showing resilience and their commitment to change. The estimated cost of such programs per inmate is $5,000. While this may seem like a steep price to pay, if it cut down on the number of inmates that are housed at $60,000 each, it would dramatically cut the expenses associated with the ongoing operation of prison systems if fewer inmates were locked up since they found new opportunities outside the prison system. 

While not every inmate would be interested in pursuing a college education and not every voter approves of such programs, it costs taxpayers less by having such programs in place. By slowing down the rate of recidivism, criminal activity can be decreased by putting additional resources in the hands of inmates, which is worth considering.

Legal Assistance

Individuals who have committed crimes but who are motivated to change their lives may inquire with their criminal defense lawyers about the potential alternatives to being imprisoned for their crimes. A plea agreement consisting of pursuing a particular educational track, taking part in domestic violence education or learning about the factors that contribute to violent crimes may form a foundation for an alternative approach to the costly standard punishment of putting someone behind bars for years at a time and requiring taxpayers to pay these significant sums.