Incarcerated education programs

For some inmates, this may also mean participating in some basic remedial courses including literacy training, or in the case of Non-English-speaking inmates, an equivalent English as a Second Language ESL program.

The Bureau indicates that inmates must typically take a minimum of hours in literacy training or until they obtain their GED. The majority of these programs are facilitated through onsite courses and are a required part of most prison rehabilitation strategies. In some instances, mail-in correspondence courses may also help facilitate the receipt of an online high school diploma or GED, though research suggests [PDF] that inmates are less likely to achieve degree-completion through the slow and tedious mail-in process.

For ex-offenders who are just beginning a new chapter in their lives, online GED programs offer great flexibility and access. This can be especially valuable for those working through parole programs, those with limitations on travel, and those managing new responsibilities in transitional employment settings. The IHEP report references findings from , indicating that somewhere between 35 and 42 percent of correctional facilities offer some type of PSCE access.

The Center for American Progress echoes these findings, noting that only 35 percent of state prisons provide college-level courses, and these programs only serve six percent of incarcerated individuals nationwide. This low rate of penetration can be attributed to several factors, including the above-noted reality that many inmates may lack basic academic skills or may be working toward a GED.

This limited access is only magnified by the issue of cost. Financing a college education is hard enough for the average student. Limits in opportunities for financial aid can make the uphill climb even steeper for inmates. Even those recipients were largely part of the Second Chance Pell Program, an Obama-era initiative that, according to the Department of Education, awarded " Certificates, Associates, and Bachelors graduates in prison, 34 graduates post incarceration, and credentials" between and For many others, it may be an option, but one that is financially out of reach.

This is generally true for federal inmates as well. The Federal Bureau of Prisons , does provide access to publicly-funded vocational and job training programs. These opportunities are also expected to grow and improve for federal inmates since the passage of the Prison Reform Bill. Some traditional college-level courses may be accessible, but federal inmates are largely responsible for financing this education independently. For inmates in states and facilities that do not provide onsite college-level options, the best option for earning college credits or working toward a degree may be through distance correspondence courses.

Some colleges offer correspondence courses that are open to all. Others offer correspondence courses that are geared specifically to students in the correctional system.

Prison Education System identifies the programs that it considers the most accessible and hospitable to the needs of incarcerated students. As such, these colleges and universities offer undergraduate correspondence programs uniquely suited to the higher education needs of prisoners:. Unfortunately, severe limitations on internet access for inmates largely stand in the way of the full potential that could be revealed through online postsecondary opportunities.

Many inmates do have opportunities for limited internet usage through a system called Trust Fund Limited Inmate Computer System TRULINCS , a highly restricted form of web access that allows federal inmates, and inmates in some state facilities, to communicate with personal contacts in the outside world. The system does not make allowance for many other activities.

In sum, this outlet does not provide access to educational services, including online courses and online college degree programs. This is a missed opportunity, one that could change life and brighten the future for many individuals currently serving time in prison. The increased access and flexibility created by online courses and online degree programs is especially well-suited to the unique needs and obstacles facing inmates.

California in particular offers strong evidence that access to post-secondary academic degree programs yields demonstrably positive outcomes. A: Policies and systems regarding correspondence courses for incarcerated adults vary by state.

To find out if correspondence courses are permitted in your state, contact your state department of corrections. Some correspondence courses advertised for prisoners are scams and are very expensive. Make sure any courses that are used are provided by an accredited and reliable source. Q: Where can I get more information on correctional education in federal prisons? A: More information is available from the U.

Department of Justice Bureau of Prisons. Q: Can the incarcerated or formerly incarcerated qualify for federal student financial aid? A: Please consult the " Reentry Mythbuster " on federal student financial aid. This is one among several mythbusters on reentry topics. Search for:.

Toggle navigation U. Student Loans Grants Laws Data. Adult Ed and Literacy. Office Contacts. Career and Technical Ed. Kathy Hochul of New York has signed new legislation that will establish a commission to study and develop a plan for improving prison education programs , Finger Lakes 1 reports. The Governor and lawmakers are following the lead of California and other states , which have decided that education is the answer to ending mass incarceration.

The experimental pilot program provides Pell Grants to inmates at certain federal and state prisons to help prove the merit of college-in-prison education. Criminal convictions continue to limit eligibility for federal financial aid. Drug convictions no longer affect federal student aid eligibility.

Still, individuals convicted of sexual offenses are not eligible for Pell Grants, either as inmates or after release. Incarcerated individuals who participate in academic or vocational programs are less likely to re-enter the judicial system and more likely to gain employment.

But the work they are trained to do does not always match up to the work they are permitted by law to perform. Every state, in addition to the federal government, has laws preventing people with criminal records from holding certain jobs.

These laws largely restrict those with past convictions from entering healthcare, education, and public service. For this reason, some colleges prevent incarcerated or formerly incarcerated students from studying in fields that would ultimately be closed off to them. Jessica Neptune, the director of national engagement at BPI, told Inside Higher Ed that this "gatekeeping" is problematic and creates more dead ends.

Still, the tide is turning, indicating more opportunities for the formerly incarcerated to put their degrees to work. Since , 38 states have eased or removed licensing barriers for people with criminal records, according to the Institute for Justice. Prison Education Programs Prove Their Potential With momentum from the prison-abolition movement and the return of Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated students, college in prison programs are poised for growth.