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Prisoner Education

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Prisoner Education
The education of prisoners is a topic that is riddled with complications. One of the major barriers in the way of prisoner education is public indifference and ignorance. It seems that people are almost happy to simply lock people away rather than actually confront problems such as recidivism and community reintegration. Our paper argues that prisoner education is not only a good thing, but is necessary to fix the underlying problems within the United States prison system. There is definitely a lack of education programs in our prison system today. Furthermore, even in those institutions that have education programs have many different problems such as; courses that are interrupted or terminated on the personal whims of prison administrators; the absence of libraries; waiting lists for programs; limited or no access to training in information technology; vocational courses that are dated paths to nowhere. By looking at effective existing programs, field studies at Massachusetts prisons, and actual prisoner interviews we will attempt to outline a model program and argue that educating prisoners is a means by which to help save out failing prison system. As we have talked about in class, the United States has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world, but we also possess one of the highest crime rates. If the previous statement is true, there is an enormous problem with our system, and we believe that education is the key to solving it. In order to properly critique our prison system it is important to look at existing educational and vocational programs in our area. The Massachusetts Department of Correction’s has a mission statement which reads, “The Massachusetts Department of Correction’s mission is to promote public safety by managing offenders while providing care and appropriate programming in preparation for successful reentry into the community.” They do this by following their four step program “Manage – Care – Program – Prepare.” We found


Cited: Erwin, James. "In Prison, Education Is Your Best Route to a Better Life | Erwin James | Society | Guardian.co.uk." Latest News, Comment and Reviews from the Guardian | Guardian.co.uk. Web. 27 Apr. 2011. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/joepublic/2009/sep/17/erwin-james-education-prisoners-rehabilitation>. Granoff, Gillian. "Education Update - Prison College Programs Unlock the Keys to Human Potential." EDUCATION UPDATE - APRIL 2011 - Education News. 2009. Web. 27 Apr. 2011. <http://www.educationupdate.com/archives/2005/May/html/FEAT-BehindBars.html>. Public safety and security, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (2011). Pondville correctional facility Government Printing Office. Retrieved from http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsterminal&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Law+Enforcement+%26+Criminal+Justice&L2=Prisons&L3=State+Correctional+Facilities&sid=Eeops&b=terminalcontent&f=doc_facility_pondville&csid=Eeops Reiman, J, & Leighton, P. (2010). The rich get richer and the poor get prison: ideology, class, and criminal justice. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Beale, S. S., (November 2006). The News Media’s Influence On Criminal Justice Policy: How Market-Driven News Promotes Punitiveness,” 48 William and Mary Law Review 397.
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