How Do Schools in Prison Help Inmates & Society?

Inmates increase their chances of finding employment when they receive training and education while serving time.

Inmates benefit the greater good of communities when they return to society with education and training. They are also less likely to commit additional crimes once they are released from prison, according to the UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research. Inmates who receive education while in prison are 10 to 20 percent less likely to commit new crimes and end up back in prison. Therefore, U.S. prisons need to offer educational programs for inmates serving time.

Educational Goals

Education serves as a platform to deter inmates from participating in criminal activity once they are released from prison. Therefore, not only does education provide inmates with valuable knowledge, but it also helps them acquire skills needed to be productive citizens of society. In addition, inmates released from prison can use education as a motivator and a catalyst to keep them from veering down the wrong path. Researchers in the field of criminal behavior believe that two important factors are accomplished by providing inmates with education. Education helps inmates develop cognitive skills, which teaches them how to change dysfunctional behavior. They also learn that there is more to life than crime on the streets.

Job Skills

Even in a down economy, inmates released from prison will have a better chance of finding employment when they obtain their G.E.D. or high school diploma while in prison. By attaining their high school diploma or G.E.D, they show potential employers that they are planning for the future and working towards bettering their lives. Earning a high school diploma or G.E.D. in prison might make the difference between obtaining a job or being unemployed once they are released. Inmates who attend school in prison are more likely to continue pursuing their educational goals once they are released. By attending college, they attain the knowledge and skills needed to obtain better paying jobs.

Life Skills

Many inmates lack important life skills needed to make it in society. When you have become accustomed to a life of crime, you may not know how to be a productive member of society. Inmates need to learn and develop life skills such as money management, social interaction, cognitive development and proper work etiquette. Education programs in prisons help inmates develop important social and cognitive skills. These skills help them learn how to reprogram detrimental behavior and become better-adjusted members of society.

Interview Skills

Some prisons in the U.S. form partnerships with companies and corporations to help inmates develop important interview skills while they are in prison. Inmates who participate in these programs are required to complete 14 to 20 hours of schooling. Job skills courses provide inmates with resume tips and job interviewing skills. These mock job fairs encourage inmates to learn valuable speaking skills they can utilize during an interview to make the interviewing process more streamlined. In the process, inmates learn how to answer tough questions about felony convictions; they also learn important questions to ask prospective employers during an interview.

References

• Unicor: Inmate Training Process
• State of Oklahoma: Innovative Programs for Inmates; J.M. Yeonopolus
• "Silicon Valley De-Bug"; Prison Education Cuts Hurt More Than Just Inmates; Malik Alayube; June 2010
• UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research; Correctional Education as a Crime Control Program; Audrey Bazos, et al.; March 2004