An Investment in Knowledge: the Worth of Prison Education Programs
As the new year approaches, many are beginning to evaluate what a “fresh start” means for them. For the formerly incarcerated, a fresh start is often the difference between returning to their communities or returning to jail or prison. Robust education programs in prisons can help to ensure that the transition is one of opportunity and hope instead of dead ends and closed doors.
Reentering citizens are often met with a litany of barriers, from burdensome fines and fees to difficulty finding a job. The plight of the formerly incarcerated results in increased recidivism, longer sentences, and the fiscal burden that comes with mass incarceration. Empowering the justice impacted can begin in jails and prisons. Increasing the quality and incentives for education programs is an accessible and proven method for changing lives and making reentry a sustainable goal.
Education is a powerful step towards rehabilitation.The data presents a resounding consensus that education improves post release outcomes. A 2019 meta-analysis from the Journal of Experimental Criminology concluded that correctional education programs have a significant impact on recidivism, reducing it by nearly 28% as compared to those individuals who did not participate in a program. The Vera Institute for Justice quantified that this kind of decrease can save states a combined $365.8 million in decreased prison costs per year.
While a decrease in recidivism is promising enough, a report this year from the Mackinac Center also underscored an increase in employment opportunities for those who participated in education programs while incarcerated. Education programs can range from academic to vocational and successful prison education initiatives often involve a blend of both. Benjamin Franklin once astutely observed that, “an investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Reduced taxpayer dollars towards recidivism and increased capable employees is a good interest indeed.
In conjunction with the report, the Mackinac Center ranked states’ prison education initiatives based on their availability and implementation. Louisiana was ranked 30th, alongside Hawaii, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. Among the reasons given for the middle to low score were disproportionately low literacy rates and a lack of automatic enrollment for prisoners who do not meet certain educational requirements. While a collection of programs currently exist in state prisons, the recent report alongside the data highlighting the worthiness of strong and available education programs highlight the need for increased attention in this area.
In 2023, a task force was established to study the educational programs in prisons and jails of Louisiana. In the last legislative session, the task force resolved to provide recommendations and reports before the 2025 session. Taking an inventory of existing programs is a vital first step towards understanding ways to improve them. Increased data about what needs exist, what resources are available to correctional facilities, and even which schools, vocational, primary, and college, are eager to collaborate will give momentum to ensuring that the incarcerated in Louisiana have access to the right education for them.
A fresh start doesn’t have to wait for a release date. The evidence is clear that prison education programs provide long lasting personal and fiscal benefits. Understanding the state of programs, the needs of inmates, and the value of accessible and robust education programs is essential to successful implementation.
