Educational Programs for Adult Offenders

Educational Programs for Adult Offenders

Crime rates have increased over the last few decades leading to increasing number of arrests and incarcerations. As per the Council of Europe study conducted in 2001 the U.S. stands out for the most number of prisoners per 100,000 population compared with many other nations. Overcrowding is a fact in many of the U.S. prisons leading to violent behavior and severe prison management problems.

As per the 2002 data released by the Bureau of Justice, recidivism rates continue to increase over the last two decades standing at an alarming 67.5%. [Released and Restored] These statistics project a grim picture of our correctional facilities and the need for a more proactive and effective approach towards crime control and correctional facilities. With thousands of dollars of exchequer's money being spent just for housing a prisoner every year it is high time we take a more involved and interested approach to managing our prisoners. Controlling recidivism rates is a high priority for any correctional facility and this article by Howard Gordon and Bracie Weldon discusses the important role of educational programs in controlling and reducing recidivism rates.

This 2003 study by the authors observed the recidivism rates of inmates of the Huttonsville Correctional Center in West Virginia. For this purpose the researchers gathered information from the educational department at the correction facility pertaining to those inmates who were enrolled during 1999-2000 period.

Recidivism trends were compared for those completing the Vocational training programme, those finshing the GED, and for those who did not undergo any form of educational pursuit during their incarceration. It was found that the recidivism rates for those who completed vocational training stood at 8.75%, while it was 6.71% for those who had completed their GED along with the vocational training. The authors report that among the inmates who did not attend any of these educational programs recedivsm rate was quiet high at 26%. [Gordon, 2003]

The authors support their conclusions with results from previous research. For example a study by seigel (1998) reported that rearrest rates for GED completed probationers was 24% when compared with the control population which was as high as 46%. Similar results were reported by Lewin (2000), a research that followed 3000 released prisoners from maryland, minnesota and Ohio over a three-year period. This research reported that only 22% of those who completed vocational training returned to prison within the next three years while it was 31% for those prisoners who did not attend any educational programme during their incarceration. Another study conducted by the virginia department of correctional education in 2000 also attested to the reforming capacity of educational programmes for inmates. In this research the researchers observed that of the 1,037 prisoners who did not undergo any vocational or other forms of training 49.1% were arrested again while among the 491 inmates who had sucessfully completed the vocational training programme the recidivism rate was only 19.1%. Even those who did participate but did not sucessfully complete their vocational training (469 prisoners) had a significantly reduced recedivism rate at 38.2% compared with those without any educational programme. [Gordon, 2003]

Few other studies were also used by the authors to support their results. The emphasis of the authors is that education should be used as an effective tool that would a bring about a positive change in the life of the prisoners. The fact that so many studies arrive at similar conclusions implies the effectiveness of educational programmes as a reformational tool.

Another study by John et.al (2003) also confirms the effectiveness of a GED program in reducing recidivism among prisoners. For the study, data pertaining to all inmates released during 1996 was obtained from the New York State Department of Correctional Services. Among the study subjects, those who were under 21 at the time of release and did not have GED programmes, receidivism rate at 3 years post release was 54% compared to those who had GED while at prison. (40%). This study proved that educational programs are a more effective deterrent for young adults keeping them from falling back into criminal ways. [John et.al, 2003]

Studies have also focussed on other programs besides education that could aid in reducing recidivism rates. A recent study by Marylin and Cindy (2007) found that the Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program (PIECP) which allows a prisoner to work for a private employer and earn real wages is also very effective in reducing recidivism rates. It was found that the PIECP program was better than both employment in TI (traditional industries paying modest wages) and OTW (other than work) activities in reducing recidivism rates and in increasing employment tenure post release. This study found that one year post release 82% of those who were enrolled in PIECP were arrest free while similar data for TI and OTW stood at 77% and 76% respectively. [Marylin & Cindy, 2007] agree with the author that prison educational programmes offer the best reformational climate for the inmates. However, this research does not have a comprehensive method of assessing the impact of correctional education. Some other researchers have expressed this deficiency in that most research on analyzing the effects of correctional programs tend to focus on macro variables leaving asides other variables such as method of delivery, experience and the educational level of the educator, etc. As Linton (2005) states, 'If the evaluator cannot pin down what program is being evaluated, what possible significance could there be in any numerical findings?' [Lewis John, 2005]

Therefore a new and comprehensive model is required for a more accurate evaluation of the educational programs and their positive effects. Education increases their chances of employment upon reentry and helps them reintegrate into the society. As the authors points out, the West Virginia Department of Corrections should have a proactive approach and include training programmes that are more useful to the prisoners in terms of landing up jobs. This involves the introduction of new and in trend courses rather than blindly adapting an outdated vocational training system.