With the world around us growing at a rapid pace, it is no surprise that most jobs will require post-secondary education before too long. A high school diploma is no longer going to suffice if one wishes to attain a job that pays enough to support themselves and perhaps even a family. So with most prison inmates not even having the credentials to receive a high school diploma, they are almost destined to fail and return to prison within three years (Altschuler and Skorton. 2013). With it being a topic of controversy throughout the years, one wonders how prisoners would benefit from an education within the system. Would they improve as people? Would it help them to find jobs once they are on the outside? There are a number of questions associated
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There are many points to both sides of the argument and in all, maybe it is something to consider in the long run as opposed to a cycle and a high recidivism rate. However, why should they get to go to college for free when many students have to pay for university. When these law abiding students have to go into such a pit of debt that it causes unnecessary stress. Why should criminals get to go for free when people who have done no wrong have to worry and pay? According to Loretta Taylor, Dean of Correction Education in Washington, it costs $35,000 per year to incarcerate an adult in Washington. With that, the cost of education comes out to be approximately $2,500. Those who receive an education in prison are 43% less likely to return to prison (Taylor. 2015) and would end up saving the state money in the long run. So while the argument is compelling about keeping free education where it belongs with those who are not in the system, it seems like it will save a great deal of money in the long run. Once again, incarceration bears the responsibility of rehabilitation and education is an easy way to do so. It teaches self-expression in a healthy manner, it gives self-worth, self-confidence, something to look forward
There are many points to both sides of the argument and in all, maybe it is something to consider in the long run as opposed to a cycle and a high recidivism rate. However, why should they get to go to college for free when many students have to pay for university. When these law abiding students have to go into such a pit of debt that it causes unnecessary stress. Why should criminals get to go for free when people who have done no wrong have to worry and pay? According to Loretta Taylor, Dean of Correction Education in Washington, it costs $35,000 per year to incarcerate an adult in Washington. With that, the cost of education comes out to be approximately $2,500. Those who receive an education in prison are 43% less likely to return to prison (Taylor. 2015) and would end up saving the state money in the long run. So while the argument is compelling about keeping free education where it belongs with those who are not in the system, it seems like it will save a great deal of money in the long run. Once again, incarceration bears the responsibility of rehabilitation and education is an easy way to do so. It teaches self-expression in a healthy manner, it gives self-worth, self-confidence, something to look forward