College for Criminals

[publius2k4]

I found this article covering a recent event in New York. The Governor announced a $1 million plan to bring college courses to various prisons in New York.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/10/opinio...inion&_r=0

The cost for the program would have been $5000 per inmate per year.

A program like this has its merits, but I'm curious how the Governor plans to justify being able to make tuition for an inmate $5000, when the average price of in-state tuition at a public university is nearly $9000. Shouldn't these same reforms be made in public higher education to lower the costs for the average student first?

[sanantone]

I'm assuming the inmates would have been attending through correspondence; that's why it's cheaper to educate them. It's not like New York isn't already spending millions (maybe billions) subsidizing the educations of New York residents. $1 million for a prison program wouldn't even make a dent in the tuition rates for New York residents. This is where one would do a cost-benefit analysis. How much money can New York save taxpayers by educating and training inmates for jobs and having them be less likely to recidivate because of this? The savings could go to other things such as subsidizing in-state tuition.

[defscarlett]

I'm assuming the inmates would have been attending through correspondence; that's why it's cheaper to educate them. It's not like New York isn't already spending millions (maybe billions) subsidizing the educations of New York residents. $1 million for a prison program wouldn't even make a dent in the tuition rates for New York residents. This is where one would do a cost-benefit analysis. How much money can New York save taxpayers by educating and training inmates for jobs and having them be less likely to recidivate because of this? The savings could go to other things such as subsidizing in-state tuition.

I don't think this will do anything to help recidvism rates at all. Have you ever worked with convicted criminals trying to get them a job that paid more than minimum wage? It doesn't matter what education, training or skills these guys have, no one wants the liability of hiring an (ex?)offender.

[UptonSinclair]

Hopefully, the Governor is making decisions based on empirical evidence rather than anecdotal evidence.

[soliloquy]

I don't think this will do anything to help recidvism rates at all. Have you ever worked with convicted criminals trying to get them a job that paid more than minimum wage? It doesn't matter what education, training or skills these guys have, no one wants the liability of hiring an (ex?)offender.

The decision to deny an inmate college level schooling, I hope, will not be based on speculation as to whether they will be viable in the job market when they get out of prison. It would be difficult enough I would think to be an ex-convict looking for a job - but to spend a decade or more in prison only to also be dismissed with absolutely no educational opportunities is counter-intuitive to the notion that they are supposed to be rehabilitated rather than punished.

[sanantone]

I don't think this will do anything to help recidvism rates at all. Have you ever worked with convicted criminals trying to get them a job that paid more than minimum wage? It doesn't matter what education, training or skills these guys have, no one wants the liability of hiring an (ex?)offender.

The article says this.

This is not a bleeding-heart cause. Leading conservatives and red-state politicians have supported prison college programs as a matter of public safety and fiscal prudence. A RAND meta-analysis of 58 studies concluded that inmates who participated in these programs were 43 percent less likely to return to a life of crime; even assuming that the most redeemable inmates are the likeliest to sign up, this is an incredible return on a modest investment. Moreover, wardens and prison guards believe such programs lower the explosive tensions in prison.

And links to this.
http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pub..._RR266.pdf

It's not easy, but there are ways to get around bias against felons. Those trained in the trades can go into business for themselves. Oftentimes, blue collar employers are willing to give felons a second chance. There are many substance abuse counselors who are former drug addicts and alcoholics. My county has had a defense attorney nominated as the Democratic candidate for DA twice. Even though he was convicted of a drug charge a long time ago, he has a successful practice. Our current DA, who just received the Republican nomination again, was once arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. She's still suspected of being an alcoholic because she always appears drunk. hilarious

[Ayla87]

The problem with this initiative is that it aims too high. 82% of prison inmates are high school drop outs and over 60% of them are functionally illiterate.

Literacy Statistics

https://www.dosomething.org/actnow/tipsa...l-dropouts

Most of these guys don't need college, they need high school.

[EI2HCB]

I think what is important here is hope. Statistics indicate that minorities populate our prison systems regardless of State some may say the life of crime was due to their surroundings or lack of hope in another option. In many cases though criminals take advantage of an opportunity which given other hopeful opportunities like a college education they may be willing to make a go of living "normal" lives which since they already have lost their right to participate in the political system through their felony may be able to participate in our economic system through business and enterprise.

[sanantone]

The problem with this initiative is that it aims too high. 82% of prison inmates are high school drop outs and over 60% of them are functionally illiterate.

Literacy Statistics

https://www.dosomething.org/actnow/tipsa...l-dropouts

Most of these guys don't need college, they need high school.

Most prisons already offer high school and GED programs.

Texas is extremely conservative, and even we offer college degree programs to inmates.

[dewisant]

If I end up in prison I will go to law school...if it's the last thing I ever do.