Degree Open Doors

Last, in most prisons they have disciplinary credits. This is a system originally created as an incentive for good behavior. It gives inmates the opportunity to take educational classes, such as GED instruction, literacy education, and substance abuse treatment. There are also vocational programs that inmates can take to learn a trade or skill. Each class or program that is completed the inmate receives points or credits. Points can be used to shorted the inmates time spent behind bars. A lot of these degrees have nothing to do with future behavior, it 's just a way for the inmate to get out early. Inmates will pile up class after class, which when many are completed can take years off a long sentence. Inmates have been

The prison system realizes that an immense majority of inmates will be released; we need to prepare them for outside life. Without the efforts of educational programs, a prison can become a “revolving door, with inmates having nowhere to go but back” to the prison with no future (Young 1). A majority of the states offer a GED program, but North Carolina profits from a Community College system that offers classes in academics, auto mechanics, masonry, wiring, plumbing, and computer literacy. The Community Colleges offer two-year degree programs in many areas. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers business association classes to inmates over twenty-five years of age. Because of the excellent programs they have to offer, more than five thousand of about thirty thousand inmates are in the education program and these numbers continue to grow.

Although several educational programs are widely available, many inmates are unable to take advantage of them, do not complete them, or lack follow up in the form of ongoing support services once released from the correctional system. The following table displays this concern: Table 2. national and state data on inmate participation and completion . Approximate Numbers 1993-2007: Institution Type Total Number of Inmates System 165,000 167,717 Number of Inmates Enrolled in Education Programs 54,000 87,624 Rate of Attendance, At Completion of Course 50% 60% Rate of Completion

The correctional educational programs plays a role in reducing recidivism. Recidivism remains high nationally, with four in 10 inmates returning to prison within three years of release. Most inmate that goes to prison had less education than the general population. I feel that it's

The article "The Impact of Career and Technical Education Programs on Adult Offenders: Learning Behind Bars" by Howard Gordon and Bracie Weldon (2003) studies of how prisoners receiving educations in prison reduces the recidivism rate. Gordon and Weldon studied the inmates who were participating in the educational programs at the Huttonsville Correctional Center in West Virginia and claimed that inmates who participated in the educational programs were less likely to recidivate once released back into the population as compared to inmates who did not participate in these programs (Gordon & Weldon, 2003). This study provides valuable information as to the effectiveness of educational programs in prison and how they affect prisoner's lives

Inmates need to be educated and rehabilitated in order to be released back into society. If prisoners receive a good education they are less likely to commit misconduct in the future. The Three State Recidivism Study

A provision in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 banned access to Pell Grants for incarcerated adults. At the time, Pell grant usage among inmates constituted less than 1 percent of Federal Pell spending, but its removal all but eliminated postsecondary opportunities for inmates. Since that time, research has found that access to correctional education (i.e. adult education, postsecondary courses, and workforce training) correlates with significantly reduced chances of recidivism, increased employment prospects, and greater public safety. Under the Obama Administration the Department initiated a pilot program reinstating some incarcerated individuals’ access to Pell Grants to pursue higher education. Do you have an opinion on whether providing postsecondary for prisoners helps reduce recidivism, increase employment, and

Not only do these programs offer experience in the ability to work in a job but they also provide opportunities to get an education if they for example dropped out of high school they are now offered opportunities to further their education. These programs offer ex-offenders an opportunity to take G.E.D. classes as well as other educational classes in order to allow inmates to further advance the development of their education and work ethic. So that once these ex-offenders have served their sentence they are allowed to have more opportunities to come back into society as a change person and lower their chances of committing another crime. Therefore, keeping society safe from chaos and

Prison inmates should be allowed to take college courses because an education offers a positive change for their release back into society. The education they receive will offer life skills and provide them with positive reinforcement to change their lives for the better; while restructuring the way some think and continue through life and society through making proper choices and better role models.

Vivian Nixon’s article “During and After Incarceration, Education Changes Lives” argues higher education should be made available to current and formerly imprisoned individuals. Her main point is that, “Lawmakers should remove the obstacles that prevent convicted individuals from earning degrees during and after their sentences” (Nixon). Throughout the article, she discusses the value of education and how it reduces recidivism. While appealing to legislators who implement the law, the article is relevant to all readers.

I agree with the author Daniel Harr in the article “A Plea from Behind Bars” in which he offers a suggestion about education for those who are incarcerated for non-violent crimes. I do believe that the education programs behind bars could be very helpful for non-violent criminals. These programs can build self-esteem and can promote positive behaviors in non-violent criminals. That is because if they haven’t got a chance in their lives to change their life this is a big opportunity. Moreover, the cost of incarcerating a non-violent criminal is high. So working towards educating them would be a right step. With the education, they can work on gaining valuable trade skills. That will reduce the burden on the government because the recidivism

For my research assignment, I am examining the effectiveness of educational programs in prisons. I chose this topic because, like most people, I have had members of my family sentenced to prison. However, I do not believe any of my family members participated in correctional education programs. I am curious to know what types of educational programs are offered in prisons and if these educational programs, such as a general education diploma course, are beneficial to the prisoners after being released from prison. I also am curious to know that if these programs will be beneficial to the prisoners in finding employment after being released. If it proves that these education programs are not beneficial, I would like to know if the funds for these programs could be invested elsewhere in the correctional realm.

In this table, the authors are describing the characteristics (gender, race, age, priors, offense, and education) of the sample of Ohio inmates who completed the various correctional educational programs included in their study (college, GED, vocational, and high school) and those who did not participate in correlational educational programs (non-education).

To begin with, prisoners getting an education would benefit them by being able to become a law-abiding citizen when they are released and have to depend on themselves in order to survive in today 's economy. Not just any company will be willing to hire someone with a criminal record that says "Drug Charges" or "Registered Sex-Offender". It does not appeal to the eye of any manager who wants their company to succeed because having someone who was previously in prison does not look good on them. "Finding a job is hard enough these days, but finding one when you have a criminal record can be all but impossible" (Barrett). This shows that even if you are someone with a clean background, it is still a challenge to find an occupation now-a-days. Moreover, being an ex-convict with minimal to no education has to be twice as harder to find a stable job that will provide you enough money to eat three meals a day, afford a home, or keep up with other personal needs. For instance, having served almost a three year sentence for "possession of marijuana with intent to deliver", James Daniels knows how frustrating the struggle is for bosses to oversee his past record of felonies. ""I made dumb mistakes when I was younger that led to my conviction," Daniels said" (Barrett).

According to “California budget $1 billion more on prisons than higher education and leaves students hanging,” they argue that higher education deters young people from prisons, and it helps decrease the prison population, and I agree with them about this point of view. If people can’t access higher education, their life become more difficult, and their consequence is robbery and going to jail. For example, a teenager with low education. He can’t have a good paying job. He has to struggle with a bunch of unaffordable things. Those things make him to participate in illegal jobs such as trading illegal drug. Consequently, he catches by cops and goes to