Roberta Goble
Professor Cassel
English Composition 1201
30 October 28, 2014
Inmate Education
Prison. This one word can mean many different things to many different people. Some might think of the Netflix series “Orange is the New Black” while others may think of movies such as “The Shawshank Redemption” or television series such as HBO’s “OZ.” While these are very different portrayals of prison, they all have one thing in common. The inmates in these facilities do not have any educational opportunities.
According to Peter Wagner and Leah Sakala of the Prison Policy Initiative, the United States has “than 2.4 million people in 1,719 state prisons, 102 federal prisons, 2,259 juvenile correctional facilities, 3,283 local jails, and 79 Indian Country jails as well as in military prisons, immigration detention facilities, civil commitment centers, and prisons in the U.S. territories. (Wagner) In Ohio “the average reading level of inmates received by the Department is a grade level of 7.5. Further 80% of the offenders are high school drop outs. Approximately 30% of the males and 20% of the females read at less than a 6th grade education and are considered functionally illiterate. (Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction )
There is a growing push in many states to try to allow inmates not only access to GED education, but to higher level learning as well. While there is a cost associated with inmate education, increasing the access to education in prisons, inmate education can reduce the re-offender rates, inmate education can improve the psychological wellbeing of inmates and the financial benefits of inmate education
In 1994, then President Bill Clinton passed a provision in the omnibus crime bill that prevented inmates from being eligible for Pell Grants (Anderson). In Mr. Anderson’s article, it states “In April 1994, the House debate featured this sort of quote: “Law-abiding students have every right to be outraged when a Pell grant for a policeman’s child is cut but a criminal that the officer sends to prison can still get a big check,” said then-Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), according to the Congressional Record.” Twenty years later, this issue is still debated. In March of 2013 “The U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Justice announced the award of three grants totaling $924,036 to adult education providers in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Kansas for innovative correctional education programs aimed at helping America’s inmate population make a smooth re-entry to society through education and workforce training.” (Office of Career, Technical and Adult Educaton) While this is seen as progress, in 2014 Congress did not renew a broad based grant program thru the Grants to States for Workplace and Community Transition Training for Incarcerated which are known as Specter funds. With the cutting of these funds, states must now try to find alternatives for these programs. In an article by Matthew Clarke it gives the following quote, “You can basically kiss the post-secondary programs goodbye,” remarked NCEA director Steurer, referring to the Maryland prison system where he worked before retiring. Steurer said short-sighted politicians don’t look at the long-term benefits of prisoner education, such as lower prison populations due to reduced recidivism or having more former prisoners become productive, tax-paying citizens. (Clarke) However, there is some hope to have this refunded. Further in the article, Mr. Clarke notes that “Legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, H.R. 803, known as the SKILLS Act, repeals the statute that authorizes Specter funds and replaces it with a different federal funding initiative for prison education programs. H.R. 803 passed in the House in March 2013; a companion bill in the Senate, S.B. 1911, was introduced in January 2014 and has been referred to a committee.” (Clarke) With funding either back in place or increased, inmates will have access to education that could help them with finding jobs upon release as well as reduce the change of them reoffending.
Re-offense rates are the most common part of the debate to allow inmate education. Re-offense, also referred to as recidivism, is one of the most measured statistics for reporting. The impact to reducing these rates is important to reduce the overall cost of incarcerating offenders. By lowering those that recidivate, we can then reduce the overall costs. As stated above, the United States has a large inmate population. By providing education to those inmates who wish to participate in higher learning, it is possible to reduce the recidivism rate for those inmates. According to Allie Bidwell in her 2013 article for U.S. News, “Each year, about 700,000 people leave federal and state prisons and about half of them return to prison within three years, according to the Department of Justice. The report suggests that education programs can help lower the costs associated with returning to jail.” (Bidwell) This is further supported in the article by Lois M Davis for the Rand Corporation, “Researchers found that inmates who participate in correctional education programs have a 43 percent lower odds of returning to prison than those who do not. The estimate is based on studies that carefully account for motivation and other differences between correctional education recipients and non-recipients.” (Davis) By improving the ability for an inmate to access and receive higher education, the taxpayers can see a return on this investment by the need for fewer prisons if inmates are less likely to reoffend.
While reducing recidivism is important, inmate education also improves the inmate’s perception of themselves thru their psychological wellbeing. “Prison life is not all sitting around eating bon-bons as some people may think or what they may have seen in TV (Knapke)” says Daniel Knapke, a 25 year old inmate at Tomoka Correctional Institution in Florida. Currently serving an 8-10 year term, his release date is early 2020. Almost all prisons require the inmates to perform tasks to contribute to the running of the facility. For example, Daniel and 5 other inmates work in the motor pool for the facilities cars as well as the staff cars if so requested. In addition, there are inmates that work on keeping the grounds clean, inmates that clean the dorms and such. There is also a set of inmates at this prison that train dogs for the local human society for adoption. While this may seem not too bad, and Daniel admits this is not the worst facility he has been in, “it is still no picnic.” Daniel and I discussed what getting a college degree while in prison would mean for him. It is important to note, there are no current Florida facilities that allow for distance learning at this time. It should also be noted that according to the Florida Department of Corrections Recidivism report dated in May 2014, “The 36 months recidivism rates, when examined one year of releases at a time, range from 26.3% to 33.3% in the five years for which three-year rates can be computed.” (Florida) Daniel currently has two children and wants to be able to provide for them when he is released. But without an education, this will be difficult. He was able to question some of the other inmates on my behalf and all said the same thing, if they could get access to education this would make them feel more able to provide for their families when they are released. This feeling of being about to better themselves was relayed in an article by David Skorton and Glenn Altschuler for Forbes, they quote New York State Corrections Commissioner Brian Fischer, and Doris Buffett. “I was struck by the dedication of the participants, the faculty, the students and the administration,” Buffett said. “The men are determined to use this opportunity to make better lives for themselves and their families.”
“Education is not the only avenue toward recovering and protecting one’s dignity in prison, but it is a major one,” wrote Matthew Spellberg, who taught comparative literature in a New Jersey prison as a graduate student at Princeton. “Done right, it offers a modicum of the authority required of a person for self-creation: It makes a person in some modest way master of his or her own mind.”
“For once I can prove my ability to do good, to exercise discipline and increase my adaptability,” inmate student Christopher Shaphard declared. (Skorton) By allowing prison education, not only will the inmate be more likely to succeed, but they will also be able to feel that they accomplished something that may have been out of reach under other circumstances to them.
In the article The Importance of Funding Postsecondary Correctional Educational Programs (Mercer), the authors found that studies show that in Florida “the return on investment is US$1.66 for every dollar invested in correctional education. In addition, correctional education may reduce tax-payer costs in housing inmates to the extent that it reduces recidivism.” In addition, in the article by Lois M. Davis, from 2013, “from the largest-ever meta-analysis of correctional educational studies, suggest that prison education programs are cost effective, with a $1 investment in prison education reducing incarceration costs by $4 to $5 during the first three years post-release” Further in the article she states “The findings also suggest that prison education programs are cost effective. The direct costs of providing education are estimated to be from $1,400 to $1,744 per inmate, with re-incarceration costs being $8,700 to $9,700 less for each inmate who received correctional education as compared to those who did not.” (Davis) These statics show that inmate education can be worth the cost to the general population of the country. However, the perception that inmates do not deserve this education is one that must be overcome by those advocates that support these programs. In the recent budget proposal by Governor Andrew Cuomo in New York to fund prisoner education, there was general outrage for this proposal. In the article by Bill Keller, “A ''Kids Before Cons'' online petition drive organized by Republican Assembly staffers juxtaposed two photos. One portrayed jubilant white kids tossing their graduation caps in the air, over the caption: ''Studied hard. Worked summer jobs. Saved. Took out loans ...'' The second featured a line of minority prisoners in orange jumpsuits: ''Stole a car. Robbed a bank. Shot a bystander. Got a free college education paid for by YOU. (Keller)’’ These types of ads were effective and Governor Cuomo did redraw the funding for inmate education. In order to combat this perception, the reports such as those by the Rand Corporation need to be further peer reviewed and released to the public to get the necessary backing for these programs.
While most inmates are in prison, jail or other correctional situations, are sentenced and serving time for a crime they committed, it should not stop us as a society from trying to rehabilitate these offenders into becoming more productive to our society. There are numerous studies and advocate groups that show that inmate education can be a form of rehabilitation for those inmates who desire to lean and get the education if it were offered. Eric Holder, then Attorney General, stated “…the need to become smarter on crime by expanding proven strategies for keeping our communities safe, and ensuring that those who have paid their debts to society have the chance to become productive citizens,… We have an opportunity and an obligation to use smart methods – and advance innovative new programs – that can improve public safety while reducing costs. As it stands, too many individuals and communities are harmed, rather than helped, by a criminal justice system that does not serve the American people as well as it should. This important research is part of our broader effort to change that. (Fantuzzo) This should lead to discussions on how we can effectively teach inmates who wish to have opportunities that will lead them to be less likely to reoffend, give those inmates the ability to feel accomplished in getting a post-secondary education as well as reduce the costs to society by educating these inmates to become productive and contribute to society. Inmates should not feel that the door on opportunity is closed, but instead we should find ways to better those inmates who have the desire to choose a different path.
Works Cited
Anderson, Nick. “Advocates push to renew Pell grants for prisoners, citing benefits of higher ecucation." 3 December 2013. www.washingtonpost.com. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/when-congress-cut-pell-grants-for-prisoners/2013/12/03/fedcabb2-5b94-11e3-a49b-90a0e156254b_story.html. 8 November 2014.
Bidwell, Allie. "Prison Education Programs Could Save Money." 22 August 2013. www.usnews.com. 30 October 2014. http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/08/22/report-prison-education-programs-could-save-money4.
Clarke, Matthew. "Prison Education Programs Threated." 19 May 2014. www.prisonlegalnews.com. https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2014/may/19/prison-education-programs-threatened/. 8 November 2014.
Davis, Lois M. " Education and Vocational Training in Prisons Reduces Recidivism, Improves Job Outlook." 22 August 2013. www.rand.org. 30 October 2014. http://www.rand.org/news/press/2013/08/22.html.
Fantuzzo, John. "Department of Justice acknowledges benefits of prison educatio." Columbia University 26 August 2013. http://blogs.cuit.columbia.edu/philosophyoutreach/2013/08/26/department-of-justice-acknowleges-benefits-of-prison-education/. 30 October 2014Knapke, Daniel. y37894 Roberta Goble. 29 October 2014. phone.
Fleischer, Matthew. " U.S. Prisons Don’t Fund Education, and Everybody Pays a Price." 1 March 2013. www.takepart.com. 8 November 2014. http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/03/01/americas-inmates-education-denied-everybody-pays-price
Florida Department of Corrections Bureau of Research. "Florida Department of Corrections Recidivism Report: 2013 Florida Prison Recidivism Study Releases From 2005 to 2012." May 2014. www.dc.state.fl.us. http://www.dc.state.fl.us/pub/recidivism/2013/index.html. 2014 October 2014
Knapke, Daniel. y37894 Roberta Goble. 29 October 2014. phone.
Mercer, Kerri Russo. "The Importance of Funding Postsecondary Correctional Educational Programs ." Community College Review. Vol. 37 Issue 2 October 2009. p153-164. Academic Search Premier. Sinclair Library, Dayton, OH. 14 October 2014.
Office of Career, Technical and Adult Educaton. "U.S. Department of Education." 7 August 2004. www.ed.gov. http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/AdultEd/correctional-education.html. 8 November 2014.
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction . 17 September 2014. http://www.drc.ohio.gov/web/FAQ.htm. 30 October 2014.
Skorton, David, Altschuler, Glann. "College Behind Bars: How Educating Prisoners Pays Off." 25 March 2013. www.forbes.com. http://www.forbes.com/sites/collegeprose/2013/03/25/college-behind-bars-how-educating-prisoners-pays-off/. 30 October 2014.
Wagner, Peter and Sakala Leah. "Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie." 12 March 2014. Prison Policy Initative. http://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie.html. 28 October 2014.
Works Cited
Anderson, Nick. “Advocates push to renew Pell grants for prisoners, citing benefits of higher ecucation." 3 December 2013. www.washingtonpost.com. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/when-congress-cut-pell-grants-for-prisoners/2013/12/03/fedcabb2-5b94-11e3-a49b-90a0e156254b_story.html. 8 November 2014.
Bidwell, Allie. "Prison Education Programs Could Save Money." 22 August 2013. www.usnews.com. 30 October 2014. http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/08/22/report-prison-education-programs-could-save-money4.
Clarke, Matthew. "Prison Education Programs Threated." 19 May 2014. www.prisonlegalnews.com. https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2014/may/19/prison-education-programs-threatened/. 8 November 2014.
Davis, Lois M. " Education and Vocational Training in Prisons Reduces Recidivism, Improves Job Outlook." 22 August 2013. www.rand.org. 30 October 2014. http://www.rand.org/news/press/2013/08/22.html.
Fantuzzo, John. "Department of Justice acknowledges benefits of prison educatio." Columbia University 26 August 2013. http://blogs.cuit.columbia.edu/philosophyoutreach/2013/08/26/department-of-justice-acknowleges-benefits-of-prison-education/. 30 October 2014Knapke, Daniel. y37894 Roberta Goble. 29 October 2014. phone.
Fleischer, Matthew. " U.S. Prisons Don’t Fund Education, and Everybody Pays a Price." 1 March 2013. www.takepart.com. 8 November 2014. http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/03/01/americas-inmates-education-denied-everybody-pays-price
Florida Department of Corrections Bureau of Research. "Florida Department of Corrections Recidivism Report: 2013 Florida Prison Recidivism Study Releases From 2005 to 2012." May 2014. www.dc.state.fl.us. http://www.dc.state.fl.us/pub/recidivism/2013/index.html. 2014 October 2014
Knapke, Daniel. y37894 Roberta Goble. 29 October 2014. phone.
Mercer, Kerri Russo. "The Importance of Funding Postsecondary Correctional Educational Programs ." Community College Review. Vol. 37 Issue 2 October 2009. p153-164. Academic Search Premier. Sinclair Library, Dayton, OH. 14 October 2014.
Office of Career, Technical and Adult Educaton. "U.S. Department of Education." 7 August 2004. www.ed.gov. http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/AdultEd/correctional-education.html. 8 November 2014.
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction . 17 September 2014. http://www.drc.ohio.gov/web/FAQ.htm. 30 October 2014.
Skorton, David, Altschuler, Glann. "College Behind Bars: How Educating Prisoners Pays Off." 25 March 2013. www.forbes.com. http://www.forbes.com/sites/collegeprose/2013/03/25/college-behind-bars-how-educating-prisoners-pays-off/. 30 October 2014.
Wagner, Peter and Sakala Leah. "Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie." 12 March 2014. Prison Policy Initative. http://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie.html. 28 October 2014.