Corrections_Today_September_October_2023_Vol.85_No.5

Recidivism Rates of Formerly Incarcerated Individuals

Completed Some High School Courses

Vocational or Career Tech Training 30%

Recidivism Rate Associate’s Degree 13.7%

Recidivism Rate Bachelor’s Degree 5.6%

55% Recidivism Rate

Recidivism Rate

* Source: Emory University research. 3

reoffending. Returning them to society without the proper foundation to make better choices could almost guarantee their return to criminogenic behaviors. Research conducted by Emory University found that formerly incarcerated individuals who complete some high school courses have recidivism rates of around 55%. 3 The same study revealed that incarcerated adults with vocational or career tech training decrease the likeli hood of recidivating to approximately 30%, an associate degree brings the rate down to 13.7%, and a bachelor’s degree reduces it to 5.6%. “When you look at anyone who’s done any post- secondary education at all, not meaning that you com pleted a degree and became a bachelor’s degree holder, but even if you just enroll in college classes or career tech program, all of those are one more step towards that, and the recidivism rates fall through the floor,” said Denman. OCSS has served and continues to assist thousands of incarcerated adults during the 2022 fiscal year, with 816 students earning high school equivalency certifica tions, 1,175 students receiving career technical education certifications, and, most of all, 3,209 students earning advanced job training certifications or degrees. ToCI offers college courses through Ashland Univer sity, offering associate degrees in general studies with a concentration in business and a bachelor of arts in applied

communication, with minors available in business admin istration, business management, religion, sociology, or Christian ministries. Benjamin, an incarcerated adult at ToCI, said he didn’t think anything he did in prison would matter because be ing a felon would minimize his opportunities post-release. “Now I look back, and I wish that I would’ve gone after my education since day one,” he said. “I thought college was over for me, but I learned in here that you can still go to school or college, and they hire felons out there now.” Incarcerated adult Sharrod also took advantage of the education opportunities available during his time at ToCI. “Not in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be in college right now. I have taken full advantage of this opportunity and want to do something different with myself,” Sharrod said. Before coming to prison, Sharrod was already a licensed barber. In prison, he has earned business cer tificates and provides haircuts for the incarcerated population. His original release plan was to work in a bar bershop and cut hair, but opportunities inside the prison opened his eyes to new possibilities. “Why work for somebody else when you can get the education and the skills to run a business, and you can just open up your own,” he said. “I’m learning how to properly run a business so I can open my own when I get home.” →

Corrections Today September/October 2023— 39