LearningLearning to Reduce to Reduce Recidivism:Recidivism:

A 50-state analysis of A 50-state analysis of postsecondary education policypostsecondary education policy

Wendy ErismanWendy Erisman

Institute for Higher Education PolicyInstitute for Higher Education PolicyWashington, DCWashington, DC

Part of Larger Research Part of Larger Research AgendaAgenda

To look at subgroups facing unique To look at subgroups facing unique barriers to accessing higher barriers to accessing higher educationeducation Disabled StudentsDisabled Students Foster YouthFoster Youth Immigrant StudentsImmigrant Students Working PoorWorking Poor Rural StudentsRural Students LGBT StudentsLGBT Students

Prisoners in the U.S.Prisoners in the U.S.

1.5 million adults incarcerated in state 1.5 million adults incarcerated in state and federal prisons as of December and federal prisons as of December 20042004

Prisoners are disproportionately: Prisoners are disproportionately: MaleMale Racial/ethnic minorities Racial/ethnic minorities ImpoverishedImpoverished

Group that has been poorly served by Group that has been poorly served by educational systemeducational system

Educational Attainment of Educational Attainment of PrisonersPrisoners

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Some highschool or less

High schooldiploma or

GED

Some collegeor more

State prison inmates

Federal prisoninmatesGeneral population

Why Offer Higher Education to Why Offer Higher Education to Prisoners?Prisoners?

Fewer disciplinary problemsFewer disciplinary problems Improved self-esteem and critical Improved self-esteem and critical

thinkingthinking Can become role models for their Can become role models for their

childrenchildren Increased employment prospectsIncreased employment prospects Reduced recidivismReduced recidivism

Higher Education and Higher Education and RecidivismRecidivism

More than half of released prisoners More than half of released prisoners return to prison within 3 yearsreturn to prison within 3 years

Studies show that taking college Studies show that taking college classes while in prison reduces classes while in prison reduces recidivism by 46% on averagerecidivism by 46% on average

Reduced recidivism lowers Reduced recidivism lowers incarceration costsincarceration costs $30 billion annually as of 2001$30 billion annually as of 2001

Research QuestionsResearch Questions

What is the current status of higher What is the current status of higher education in American prisons?education in American prisons?

What barriers are preventing What barriers are preventing prisoners from gaining access to prisoners from gaining access to higher education?higher education?

What innovative efforts are helping What innovative efforts are helping prisoners gain access to higher prisoners gain access to higher education?education?

MethodsMethods Quantitative Quantitative

Survey of correctional education administratorsSurvey of correctional education administrators 45 states and Federal Bureau of Prisons 45 states and Federal Bureau of Prisons

respondedresponded 90% response rate90% response rate

Qualitative Qualitative Open-Ended Survey QuestionOpen-Ended Survey Question Follow-Up Telephone InterviewsFollow-Up Telephone Interviews Review of Incarcerated Youth Offender ReportsReview of Incarcerated Youth Offender Reports Focus Group with Prisoners in VirginiaFocus Group with Prisoners in Virginia

Status of Higher Education in Status of Higher Education in American Prisons 2003-04American Prisons 2003-04

44 of 46 responding prison systems 44 of 46 responding prison systems offered some higher education for inmatesoffered some higher education for inmates

At least 85,491 prisoners took college At least 85,491 prisoners took college classes during 2003-04classes during 2003-04 5% of total prison population5% of total prison population 11% of prisoners with GED or high school 11% of prisoners with GED or high school

diploma diploma Similar to percentage enrolled prior to loss Similar to percentage enrolled prior to loss

of Pell Grants in 1994of Pell Grants in 1994

Uneven ParticipationUneven Participation

15 prison systems:15 prison systems: Incarcerated 66% of all prisonersIncarcerated 66% of all prisoners Enrolled 89% of inmate-studentsEnrolled 89% of inmate-students Granted 96% of degrees and certificatesGranted 96% of degrees and certificates

Key factor: Key factor: Strong institutional and state support for Strong institutional and state support for

correctional educationcorrectional education

Higher Enrollment Prison Higher Enrollment Prison SystemsSystems

Prison System

Number of Inmates Enrolled

Percentage of Inmates Enrolled

Federal Bureau of Prisons

14,780 17%

Texas 9,694 11%North Carolina 9,220 11%Washington 6,967 8%

Illinois 5,775 7%California 4,247 5%Colorado 4,200 5%Indiana 3,353 4%Ohio 3,176 4%

Wisconsin 3,000 4%Alabama 3,000 4%

Minnesota 2,881 3%Louisiana 2,100 2%Arizona 1,666 2%

New Jersey 1,630 2%All lower enrollment

prison systems 9,802 11%

Total enrollment 85,491 100%

Average Enrollment 2003-Average Enrollment 2003-0404

2,036

5,046

3630

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

National HigherEnrollmentSystems

LowerEnrollmentSystems

Averagenumberenrolled

Degree and Certificate Degree and Certificate Programs 2003-04Programs 2003-04

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Certificate Associate's Bachelor's

HigherEnrollmentSystemsLowerEnrollmentSystems

Completions 2003-04Completions 2003-04

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Certificate Associate's Bachelor's

HigherEnrollmentSystemsLowerEnrollmentSystems

Vocational EducationVocational Education

62% of prisoners taking classes for 62% of prisoners taking classes for college credit were enrolled in college credit were enrolled in vocational programs vocational programs

92% of those who earned a 92% of those who earned a credential in 2003-04 earned a credential in 2003-04 earned a vocational certificatevocational certificate

Eligibility FactorsEligibility Factors

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

HigherEnrollmentSystemsLowerEnrollmentSystems

Sources of InstructionSources of Instruction

6%

10%

68%

16%

2-year public

4-year public

4-year privatenon-profitOther

Means of InstructionMeans of Instruction

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

HigherEnrollmentSystemsLowerEnrollmentSystems

Funding SourcesFunding Sources

Federal Incarcerated Youth Offender Federal Incarcerated Youth Offender Grants (IYO)Grants (IYO)

State AppropriationsState Appropriations Inmate Self-PaymentInmate Self-Payment State Grants for Low-Income State Grants for Low-Income

StudentsStudents Scholarships/DonationsScholarships/Donations

Funding by EnrollmentFunding by Enrollment

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

HigherEnrollmentSystems

LowerEnrollmentSystems

FederalStatePrivateInmate Self-Funding

Barriers to AccessBarriers to Access

Inadequate fundingInadequate funding IYO restrictionsIYO restrictions

Limited fundsLimited funds Per student spending capPer student spending cap Age limitAge limit

Lack of support from state officialsLack of support from state officials Inmate self-funding impracticalInmate self-funding impractical

Barriers to AccessBarriers to Access

Poor academic preparationPoor academic preparation Logistical problemsLogistical problems

Security protocolsSecurity protocols Remote locationsRemote locations Difficulties hiring/retaining instructorsDifficulties hiring/retaining instructors Prison overcrowdingPrison overcrowding

Involuntary transfer of inmatesInvoluntary transfer of inmates

Barriers to AccessBarriers to Access

Structural/organizational barriersStructural/organizational barriers Staff resentmentStaff resentment Obstructive policiesObstructive policies Competing prioritiesCompeting priorities

Lack of public supportLack of public support

Innovative ProgramsInnovative ProgramsTexasTexas

Legislature required that prisoners Legislature required that prisoners reimburse state for educational costsreimburse state for educational costs

Repayment Repayment afterafter release release Payment plan negotiated with parole Payment plan negotiated with parole

officerofficer Over $1.1 million repaidOver $1.1 million repaid

Innovative ProgramsInnovative ProgramsMinnesotaMinnesota

Lost all state funding for academic higher Lost all state funding for academic higher education programseducation programs

Created private foundation to raise fundsCreated private foundation to raise funds Board includes Commissioner of Corrections Board includes Commissioner of Corrections

and a community college presidentand a community college president Funds raised go to consortium of colleges Funds raised go to consortium of colleges

that provide classes in state prisonsthat provide classes in state prisons

Innovative ProgramsInnovative ProgramsNew MexicoNew Mexico

Small prison system/large areaSmall prison system/large area Web-based distance education via Web-based distance education via

secure connection from single secure connection from single university to multiple prisonsuniversity to multiple prisons All state prisons have computer labs and All state prisons have computer labs and

offer the same classesoffer the same classes Each prison also has a trained Each prison also has a trained

coordinator to assist inmate-studentscoordinator to assist inmate-students

Innovative ProgramsInnovative ProgramsNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina

High enrollments/high completionsHigh enrollments/high completions Partnership between corrections and Partnership between corrections and

community college systemcommunity college system Shared costsShared costs Steering committee meets regularlySteering committee meets regularly

Matrix based on length of average Matrix based on length of average sentence determines which facilities sentence determines which facilities offer which programsoffer which programs

Policy RecommendationsPolicy Recommendations

Additional funding is needed Additional funding is needed Reinstate Pell Grants for inmatesReinstate Pell Grants for inmates Expand IYO program and raise age limitExpand IYO program and raise age limit Increase state appropriationsIncrease state appropriations Ensure that state colleges and Ensure that state colleges and

universities receive formula fundinguniversities receive formula funding Make inmates eligible for state grantsMake inmates eligible for state grants Seek additional private resourcesSeek additional private resources

Policy RecommendationsPolicy Recommendations

State-level support is essentialState-level support is essential Encourage close relationships among key Encourage close relationships among key

state agenciesstate agencies Build partnerships with colleges/universitiesBuild partnerships with colleges/universities Develop supportive state/institutional policiesDevelop supportive state/institutional policies

Policymakers and public need educationPolicymakers and public need education Publicize successful outcomesPublicize successful outcomes Emphasize inmate accountabilityEmphasize inmate accountability

LearningLearning to Reduce to Reduce Recidivism:Recidivism:

A 50-state analysis of A 50-state analysis of postsecondary education policypostsecondary education policy

Funded by the Ford FoundationFunded by the Ford Foundation

Report available for download atReport available for download athttp://www.ihep.orghttp://www.ihep.org