Institutional anomie theory explains that crime is a result of the overemphasis on economic institutions (Olaghere, 2017). Through the privatization of many prisons, it can be argued that they are treated on an economic basis rather …show more content…
Although implementing educational programs in prisons may cost more in the short term, it will reduce the prison incarceration rate in the future and, consequently, it will save both the state and federal government thousands of dollars a year. Current economic policies used to argue against education in prisons fail to take into consideration the long-term economic effects of incarceration. Incarceration is not cost effective and does not work in reducing the recidivism rates on a nationwide level. When looking at the direct taxpayer cost, it is stated that “for every dollar invested in a prison education program it will ultimately save taxpayers between $4 and $5 in reincarceration costs” (Westervelt,