Introduction
The criminal justice system’s role in rehabilitating law violators is quite immense. As the system is designed to enforce existing laws in society and ensure effective rehabilitation of criminals, there arises a dire need to implement efficient strategies that will prevent the future recidivism of criminals by completely transforming the inmates into socially acceptable individuals. Among the most effective methods is offering prison education by tutoring college programs. The practical implementation of educational programs that offer college courses is an essential societal tool with benefits that surpass the original intention of rehabilitating criminals. The benefits of prison education are impactful on individuals, society, and the criminal justice system. Though the efforts to offer college programs to inmates in prisons may face a few stumbling blocks, such as lack of necessary tools as well as unethical behaviour of some inmates, it is an essential tool that positively impacts the inmates’ rehabilitation efforts, the economy as well as the society in general.
Benefits to the Individuals
Offering college programs is the best approach to ensure that the rehabilitation system benefits the inmates. Education is also a fundamental right that is much deserved by the inmates with the power to develop new skills as individuals, thus increasing their chances of being professionally waged once they are out of prison (Cormac 9). Additionally, adult education in prisons is considered an integral part of the efforts to boost the reintegration of the inmates’ learners into society and boost their employment chances (Northwestern University). Educating the prisoners efficiently prepares them for further studies once released from their penal sanctions, guaranteeing them a much more opulent life. Additionally, the prisoners who embrace training are much more able to rebuild the broken bonds when incarcerated. Additionally, considering the negative insights concerning inmates, offering education programs is essential in reconceptualizing education as a form of citizenship and creating a new positive identity of prisoners as students and citizens rather than convicts (Cormac 83).
Benefits the Society
The positive impact of total rehabilitation of prisoners in society is quite far-reaching. Though research indicates that the recidivism rate is at 67.8% as previously incarcerated persons are rearrested within three years, education programs thus become essential for reducing these inmates’ recidivism when reintegrating into society (Northwestern University). As evident, inmates who embrace the education programs are less re-incarcerated. Furthermore, the higher the level of education the prisoners receive, the lower the chances of recidivism (Northwestern University). The intergenerational cycle of injustice and incarceration may be broken, as studies, for instance, show that postsecondary prison education has many positive consequences on imprisoned children (Northwestern University).
Benefits to the Economy
Society is set to benefit significantly through the education programs offered to those incarcerated, so the general economy also benefits substantially. Research indicates that offering education programs to inmates is a cost-effective investment. Investing US $ 1 million in the incarceration system could potentially reduce 350 crimes, compared to reducing 600 crimes if the same amount was injected into the prison education system (Northwestern University). Additionally, investing in educational programs for those incarcerated will save a significant amount of taxpayers through the reincarceration of persons as the cases of recidivism are reduced through prison education (Northwestern University).
Conclusion
As the criminal justice system endeavours to rehabilitate the delinquents of society, there arises a dire need to ensure that these individuals are successfully reintegrated into society without future recidivism. Offering college programs to inmates is an effective tool towards correcting incarcerated individuals by equipping them with the necessary skills to make them viable for professional employment once they are out of prison. Additionally, education will facilitate a smooth entry into the societal structures and enhance the rebuilding of broken bonds when the person is incarcerated. As incarcerated individuals and society gain from the education offered to them in prisons, the economy also gains as these programs turn out to be cost-effective by reducing future expenses of recidivism as well as saving taxpayers’ revenue. Thus, though implementing educational programs in prisons may face a few stumbling blocks, they should indeed be a priority towards rehabilitating lawbreakers into socially acceptable persons.
Works Cited
Behan, Cormac. “Education in Prison: A Literature Review.” UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning 2021.
Northwestern University. “Benefits of prison education – Northwestern prison education program.” Northwestern University, 2022, sites.northwestern.edu/npep/benefits-of-prison-education/.
write