Government reduces in-prison education even though it helps lower recidivism
ASK THIS | July 30, 2005

John Britton offers guidance on a story begging to be reported wherever there’s a prison, or ex-offenders.

By John Britton

jbritton@mmc.edu

 

Q. Is there evidence that literacy, vocational instruction and, most especially, higher education are, in fact, effective and underused tools in the crime-fighting arsenal? 

 

Q. Which is more in the public interest: to offer in-prison higher education opportunities, or to deny inmates even minimal access to things calculated to improve their condition?

 

Q. Will federal lawmakers consider appropriating funds to the states earmarked for establishing or re-establishing higher education opportunities in prison?

 

Q. Will lawmakers enact legislation mandating postsecondary education as an option for every prisoner in the federal prison system?

 

Prison populations are soaring, with in excess of 2 million persons incarcerated. Much of that population includes repeat offenders whose recidivism poses an enormous burden on state budgets nationwide. While some public policy makers view a return to rehabilitative strategies as the answer to the danger and daunting costs of career criminality, lawmakers at the federal and state levels often seem addicted to punitive practices.

 

The elephant in rehabilitation – higher education – is being pretty much ignored, so far.  Few people in prison hold baccalaureate degrees. On the other hand, almost every study of recidivism suggests that reading, writing and computing are skills that most perpetrators of violent crimes do not have. Aftercare personnel agree that substance abusers, by and large, report one thing in common that propelled them toward anti-social behavior: shame at their inability to read and write.

 

As late as the early nineties, several colleges and universities, as well as a smattering of community colleges, offered academic programs in prisons leading to associate and bachelor's degrees. Some even offered access to master’s degrees. For various reasons (mostly shortsighted complaints of prisoner privilege), most of those opportunities have disappeared, notwithstanding statistical evidence that graduates of those programs seldom return to a life of crime.

 

Legislators have deliberately reduced education opportunities for the prison population and for ex-offenders. For example, Congress denied Pell Grants to would-be prison scholars. Ex-felons are ineligible for federal student aid to fulfill any educational aspirations. In the former instance, jurisdictions without the means to squeeze prison college programs into lean state budgets can no longer anticipate that their imprisoned higher education aspirants can attract federal grants to pay college tuition. In the latter, ex-offenders with the intelligence and the motivation to enroll in a college of choice are denied access to the “union card” that is most successful at opening doors to legitimate employment.

 

Possible sources for comment

Dr. Andress Taylor, Department of English, University of the District of Columbia and founder of the now defunct Lorton Prison college program that educated residents of the DC prison, which was located in Lorton, VA. 202/274-5000.

 

George Starke, former Washington Redskins lineman and currently head of Excel Institute in Washington, DC, which provides training in automobile mechanics for at-risk youth.

 

Mimi Silbert, Ph.D., master chef and founder of the Delancy Street Foundation in San Francisco. 415/957-9800.

 

Dr. Clarence G. Newsome, president, Shaw University, which operates a prison education initiative through its Upward Bound program. 919/546-8300.

 

Bill Lockyer, former attorney general, State of California.

 

Tom L. Johnson, president, Council on Crime and Justice, Minneapolis. 612/348-7874.

John H. Britton, a former reporter and managing editor of Jet, is assistant to the president for special projects at Meharry Medical College in Nashville. E-mail: jbritton@mmc.edu

Comments

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Posted by R 09/14/2008, 12:59 PM I paid my way through college, and I am still paying for it; why reward a person for committing a crime, when that money can help someone who did not commit a crime? Your giving the message that crime pays! Is not it enough that people incardinated get better healthcare than most of us that live our lives honestly?

Posted by Student on the outside 11/14/2008, 12:26 AM I'm all for educating prisoners. Many of them did not have the opportunity to get a good education and some guidance while growing up, so why not offer them the chance to better themselves while they have the time in prison. I'd much rather they learn and earn a degree than learn how to become a better criminal. R., I don't understand how you can say that educating prisoners is teaching anyone with sense that crime pays. There's no way anyone with half a brain would spend four years in prison for a degree! Your college education was an investment. So is mine. I know you're not going to try to compare your time in school to theirs in prison, i know you wouldn't trade places with them for a "free" education. They're paying for it. They're paying for their crime. They're in jail! Give these guys a chance to make something of themselves. People aren't meant to be treated like animals. Allow them to focus on something constructive! That way when they get when or if they get out, they are less likely to continue a career as a criminal. Have some compassion!

mother Posted by Linda Angelo 08/31/2009, 06:28 PM Is the government aware of prisons receiving money for education programs and they take the money but there is no actual program. I dont know how to find this information for Florida. We can only take one at a time, but we can get them honest. Submit a comment - Jump to top of list