Corrections_Today_September-October_2022_Vol.84_No.5

n Education

As of 2013, almost all states in the U.S. provided at least some prison education program offerings. These most often included high school equivalency and voca tional programs. 24 states mandate offenders with less than a high school diploma to participate in HSE (Rosen, 2017). Vocational programming is currently becoming more popular in state prisons with a focus on participants earning a credential that is likely to lead to employment. Vocational programs in most states are often offered in partnership with local community colleges, who provide the credentials for completion of the programs. Another expanding opportunity for incarcerated individ uals is postsecondary education (Castro et al., 2018). There is some research that demonstrates the benefits of postsec ondary educational accomplishments for inmates. 32 of the 50 states provide postsecondary programs, paid for by the inmate or their families or state, college or private funding (Castro et al., 2018). Incarcerated people were allowed to apply for Pell grants to help pay for their college education from 1965 until 1994. In 1994, this opportunity was taken away but, in 2007, colleges could apply for the experimen tal Second Chance Act Pilot initiative (Castro et al., 2018). As of 2016, 69 colleges and universities in 47 U.S. states were chosen to participate in the Second Chance Pell Grant

initiative (US Department of Education, 2017, July 7). The participating postsecondary institutions offered programs ranging from basic certificates to Bachelors degrees. The individual Pell grant opportunity will again be available for incarcerated individuals in January 2023, which will open opportunities to more postsecondary institutions, as well as to more offenders. Support for carceral education There is evidence carceral education can “greatly increase the life outcomes of people incarcerated, their families, and the communities to which they will re turn” (Cantora et al., 2020, p. 4). Direct results of prison education participation are lower rates of recidivism, increased wages, higher rates of employment and other positive outcomes (Cantora et al., 2020). Bozick et al. (2013) wrote participating in prison education programs increased chances of finding employment by 13%. Steurer et al. (2001) conducted a study using a sample of 3,000 prisoners who had been released that resulted in a reduc tion in recidivism and higher wages from employment in the participants of prison education programs than those who had not participated in educational opportunities.

istock/kali9 Studies have determined education is able to improve critical thinking skills, improve pro-social behaviors and provide skills for employment.

32 — September/October 2022 Corrections Today