Corrections_Today_January_February_2024_Vol.86_No.1

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Dr. Cathy Cowling writes a compelling account, based on extensive research, that illustrates the benefit of how educational and therapeutic programming of incarcerated individuals significantly reduces recidivism. She highlights the importance of re-entry programs and how integral they are to the success of the inmate’s re-acclimation to society. She references the First Step Act which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in May of 2018. This newly enacted law, provided $50 million per year for five years to states for prison programming to help reduce recidivism. Programs in various states and in the Federal system, included social learning and communication, interpersonal skills, anti-bullying, rejection response and other life skills. For pregnant inmates, the Act prohibited the use of restraints. Several states, including Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas

all saw significant decline in parole revocations, recidivism and an overall drop in violent crime. Her research does provide evidence that education of inmates does reduce recidivism. Another common refrain among all participants is that prison education affects inmate behavior and creates a safer prison environment. First hand accounts from inmate participants in the educational programs include: “for me, a truly life changing experience”, “ a major impact on my life”, “excited about the 70 transferable credits”, “introduced me to a world of concepts and theories, which reinforce critical thinking”. The book is easy to read and packed with statistics, percentages and budget figures. Basically, if prison systems “pay it forward” and invest in meaningful educational, therapeutic and faith-based programs, their investment will pay dividends in reducing parole revocations and recidivism. ♦

Reducing Recidivism: A Focus on Rehabilitation Instead of Punishment Written by Cathy Cowling, Lexington Books, 2023, 102 pp.

REVIEWED BY James Conway. Conway is a retired Superintendent from the New York State DOCCS and an International auditor for ACA.

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