Education Within Prisons: The Good and the Bad

Authors

Tristan T. Morris, Collin Community CollegeFollow

Abstract

Independent Study

Research in progress for CRIJ 1301: Introduction to Criminal Justice

Faculty Mentor: Stefanie LeMaire

This manuscript began from a response to a discussion prompt in my Introduction to Criminal Justice course where students were asked to discuss some of the issues facing inmates upon release from incarceration. Tristan completed outside research on the relationship between education and recidivism among incarcerated individuals. More specifically, she wanted to discuss the barriers to successful reintegration and programs that have been introduced to address these concerns. Most offenders will be released from incarceration, and they will reenter our society. There is a lot at stake if they reoffend, so there is great emphasis placed on the reform of offenders while incarcerated. Tristan begins her paper by discussing the period of mass incarceration and the high recidivism rates that exist. She primarily focuses on the relationship between education and recidivism to suggest that more resources should be placed on increasing the education of inmates prior to release. She uncovers additional research that suggests that offenders with a higher education level reoffend less than those with a lower education level. Tristan continues her discussion by sharing some programs, like Ban the Box, to discuss the significance of offenders getting an equal chance at employment by removing the criminal history responses on applications. Finally, the manuscript concludes with some reflections about the reform of prisoners, and she reminds the readers that this solution will not work for every offender.

Recommended Citation

Morris, Tristan T. (2024) "Education Within Prisons: The Good and the Bad," Quest: Vol. 8, Article 3.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.collin.edu/quest/vol8/iss1/3

Faculty Mentor

Stefanie LeMaire

slemaire@collin.edu