They are never successfully rehabilitated whereas most individual can be rehabilitated if given the proper opportunity. When released from prison most will go right back to the lifestyle that put them in prison in the first place since they have never been directed down a different path other than the path of crime. “If the trend continues, prisons are likely to become merely overcrowded holding cells which release inmates without alternatives and tools and skills to apply for jobs, and become legitimate members of the community. This trend more then likely guarantees these inmates become repeat offenders and return to prisons reinforcing the cycle of crime and punishment.” (Granoff)
Very few prisons offer any kind of rehabilitation programs most importantly an education program within the prison system. “Higher-education programs for prisoners have become increasingly scarce over the past decade, as state and federal lawmakers have taken an approach to criminal justice that stresses punishment over rehabilitation” (Schmidt) The few that do seem to run in a completely different atmosphere and are often more relaxed from those that do not. “Several states, including large ones such as Florida and Michigan, have no state-financed college programs for prison inmates” (Schmidt). The states that do have education programs the relations between staff and inmates endure less hostility and there are less riots or rebellion from the inmates. An example is the Eastern New York Correctional Facility, also known as Happy Nap, which now runs the Bard Prison Initiative setup by Max Kenner, who graduated Bard College in 2001 (554). A higher education beyond that of a high school education is something that is a value to any American citizen. More and more, the gap in opportunity for those with just a high school education or a General Education Diploma (GED) and those that have a higher education beyond that of high school or a college degree is increasingly becoming wider and wider. Many criminals will tell you that they felt they were forced to choose a life a crime because it seemed like the only way they could provide for themselves or their families. You will not find convicted drug dealers that will tell you they choose to deal drugs because it seemed like an interesting hobby. They will tell you it seemed like the only way they could obtain the income they desired or needed. You will also find very few convicted drug dealers that have a college or beyond degree compared to most who have just a high school or less education.
“In the 1960s, many states began experimenting with programs designed to rehabilitate criminals rather than merely incarcerate them. In line with this principle, prisons across the United States implemented educational and vocational courses intended to ease criminals’ reentry into the labor market and thus reduce their incentives to return to crime.” (Allen) By 1970 there were 32 states that had programs within the department of corrections that allowed inmates to achieve their GED. In addition by 1970 there were 25 states that college programs within their prison system. The main source of funding for the college programs was through Pell Grants, but beginning in the 1980’s there were higher restrictions were instilled. Due to the Violent Crime Control Act that was passed in 1994 Pell Grants for inmates were completely revoked.
If criminals were given more of an opportunity to realize that they could achieve a life better than the one that they led prior to being incarcerated there is a much less of a chance of them becoming repeat offenders. “Correctional researchers and administrators have long been aware of the strong correlation between low educational attainment and the likelihood of being incarcerated. Recent research indicates that correctional education programs can significantly reduce the rate of reoffending for inmates when they are subsequently returned to the community.” (From Cellblocks to Classrooms) Rehabilitation through education can have a positive affect across the board. Even though a person has committed a crime they should still be given the opportunity to become a positive and producing member of society. Inmates that are able to receive a higher education or even just obtain their high school diplomas are less likely to become repeat offenders. “One of the recent studies, conducted by the nonprofit Correctional Education Association with a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, examined the impact of prison education programs on recidivism rates in Maryland, Minnesota, and Ohio. Although it did not focus specifically on inmates who had taken college-level courses behind bars, it found that inmates who took any classes at all were 23 percent less likely than other convicts to be imprisoned again” (Schmidt). As James Gilligan stated, “Among the conditions in the prison system that prevent violent behavior (both during imprisonment and after release to the community), the most powerful education” (551). In addition upon release from incarceration they will have a chance at opportunities that they did not prior to being incarceration thus giving them a chance at an alternative life to that of a life of crime. Importantly the fewer offenders that repeat the less people we will have in our prison systems in turn the less tax dollars that will need to be spent on our prison inmates. Some states like that of Texas require as a condition of an inmate’s release that they reimburse the state for any college-level courses that the inmate took while incarcerated. "The saving grace for us, in terms of legislative support, is that inmates have to pay their college tuitions and fees after they get out," says William R. Evans, director of continuing education for the Windham School District, an entity set up to oversee such programs statewide.” (Schmidt)
Arizona is one of few states that offer education programs within their prisons. The Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) has a variety of educational programs within their prisons. The Functional Literacy Program is a program that test all inmates remanded to the ADC’s custody. Any inmate that does not test to have at least an eighth grade education in reading, language or math must attend Functional Literacy classes for 120 days. If an inmate chooses they can continue in the program beyond the 120 days as long as there is space. For inmates that test to having at least an eighth grade education but, do not have their high school diploma or GED can participate in the GED Preparation Program. This program will help the inmates to prepare and obtain their GED. Additionally to the Functional Literacy Program and the GED Preparation Program there are seven Community Colleges around the state that are contracted with the Arizona Department of Corrections to provided Vocational Education for inmates that have their high school diploma or GED. This program will aid the inmates in their ability to obtain employment upon their release from prison by training them for work within the prison and teaching them employable skills. The Vocational Program can take an inmate six months to two years to complete (azcorrections.gov).
In 2001 there were a total of 25, 648 inmates that after assessment were in need of one or more of these programs. Out of the 25,648 there were 7, 918 inmates that tested below an eighth grade education and 7,843 did not have a GED or a high school diploma meaning that prior to entering prison the 7,843 would by most standards to be considered unemployable. To say that these figures are alarming would be an under statement to say the least and this is just one example of on one state. In 2001 out of the 7,843 inmates that did not have a high school diploma or GED 963 inmates successfully passed the GED and 1,467 inmates received a Vocational Education Program Certificate of completion. These figures are low because the available funding to support these program is also low which means that the amount of inmates that are released and are still as uneducated as they were upon entering prison is still too high a long with the likely hood that they will be repeat offenders and at some point in their lives will find themselves right back in prison. Some states, like California inmate education is required by state laws. “California Penal Code 2053, enacted in the late 1980s, states the intent of the Legislature “to raise the percentage of prisoners who are functionally literate, in order to provide for a corresponding reduction in the recidivism rate.” (From Cell Blocks to Classrooms)
The cost to keep and house an inmate that is incarcerated in a state prison is around $20,000 per year per inmate. That cost is funded in part mainly by tax dollars and state revenues. Take into consideration your average repeat offenders who spend most of their adult life in and out of the prison system due to lack of education or rehabilitation and due to the lack of opportunity that convicted criminal has when it comes to employment. One such individual can cost tax payers immensely! The cost of keeping an inmate in prison is ten times greater than the cost of educating them. “Despite the obvious advantages, the movements away from prison reforms that educate and rehabilitate have been cut severely in the past ten years. The concept of prison reform has been replaced by policies that are punitive and in favor of permanent incarceration.” (Granoff)
Inmates that are given the opportunity to become producing members of society by having the chance to obtain jobs that eluded them before when they did not have the proper education they can become successful contributors to our fiscal society. The chance at rehabilitation must not end there. Even though there are many programs that are in place to help inmates find work upon release they are still eluded profitable and successful positions because too many employers today instill strict background qualifications. Therefore even though an inmate may obtain a degree he is still left with the problem of finding an employer who we still hire them in light of their prison past. If inmates were offered the opportunity to have certain parts of their criminal past sealed in exchange for obtaining a higher education then this could be seen as a win win situation. So many convicted criminals will admit that their first offense was a huge mistake or maybe it was something completely out of their normal character, but it has such a permanent negative affect on their lives that they find themselves being forced into life a crime because whatever opportunities they had in life prior becomes stripped away because of one infraction that can be found on a background check. Certain offenses under certain conditions can be expunged from your record but, at cost of anywhere from $1,500 to $10,000 or more. The high cost can make it just about impossible for most. If those same people that would normally meet the criteria were given an alternative way to having their mistakes removed by obtaining a higher education then not only would they benefit greatly, so would society overall all.
Works Cited
Allen, Robert. “An Economic Analysis of Prison Education Programs and Recidivism.” Emory University Department of Economics. Economics.Emory.edu. 8 March 2008.
<http://www.economics.emory.edu/Working_Papers/wp/Allen.pdf>
Arizona Department of Corrections. Prison Education Programs. 30 June 2001. 3 March 2008.
<http://www.adc.state.az.us/PrisonOps/Education%20Programs.htm>
Arizona Department of Corrections. Workforce Development Programs. 3 March 2008.
<http://www.azcorrections.gov/programs/workforce.html>
Brown, Brian. Carson, Dan. “From Cellblocks to Classrooms: Reforming Inmate Education To Improve Public Safety.” Feb. 2008. LAO.CA.gov. 8 Mar. 2008. <http://www.lao.ca.gov/2008/crim/inmate_education/inmate_education_021208.aspx>
Buruma, Ian. “Uncaptive Minds: What Teaching a College-Level Class at a Maximum Security Correctional Facility Did for the Inmates-and for Me.” Perspectives On Argument. Ed. Nancy Wood. 5th ed. 2007. 553-58.
Gilligan, James. “Reflections from a Life Behind Bars: Build Colleges, Not Prisons.” Perspectives On Argument. Ed. Nancy Wood. 5th ed. 2007. 549-52.
Granoff, Gillian. “Schools Behind Bars: Prison College Programs Unlock the Keys to Human Potential.” May 2005. Educationupdate.com. 10 March 2008. <http://www.educationupdate.com/archives/2005/May/html/FEAT-BehindBars.html>
Schmidt, Peter. “College Programs for Prisoners, Long Neglected, Win New Support.” 8 Feb. 2002. Chronicle.com. 8 March 2008. <http://chronicle.com/free/v48/i22/22a02601.htm>
Vicini, James. “U.S. incarcerates more than any other nation: report.” 28 Feb. 2008. YahooNews.com. 12 March 2008. <http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080229/ts_nm/usa_crime_prison_dc>
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