Effects of Prisoner Education

 

Reduces re‑incarceration

Reduces consequent taxpayer expenses

Reduces IDOL custody problems

Creates better abilities to communicate in life

Restores personal sense of self‑worth

Changes a person's focus from self by recreating one's ability to empathize with others

Creates a better citizen, and neighbor for society

Replaces despair with hope

 

Most studies, such as Boston University study (see Maximum Security College article), show single digit numbers regarding return rates of those who complete post secondary education degrees. That is opposed to general population numbers of up to 65% return rates. That means these ex‑prisoners are finding their place in society and paying taxes. Instead of being liabilities, they are now assets.

 While involved in the education process, prisoners are the least difficult for prison officials to manage. It is much less difficult to guard a man who is doing his home work than it is prisoners engaged in other activities.

 It is difficult to measure the importance of improved communication skills, which prisoners gain as a result of higher education. Instead of communicating with curses, threats, and violence they learn new and constructive ways to express themselves, ways that produce positive results both for themselves and society at large.

 The sense of accomplishment that comes with obtaining a higher education displaces the sense of worthlessness many felt both before and after coming to prison.

 The exposure to classes such as cross‑cultural communications, interpersonal communications, psychology, philosophy, psychology of man, and sociology, forces prisoner students to think beyond themselves and creates within them the ability to empathize with others. This is an essential part of rehabilitation.

 The end result is a better citizen and neighbor for society in general.

 Hope replaces despair as prisoners learn they can learn.