Will Correctional Education Improve Inmates’ Outcomes After Release?

Yes, according to a recent study by the Rand Corporation, a nonprofit policy research institution. The key findings of the study are:

1. Correctional education increases inmates’ chances of staying out of prison after being released.
2. The odds of recidivism for inmates who participated in correctional education programs were 43% lower than for those who do not.
3. Correctional education may improve the employment chances of inmates after release.
4. Providing correctional education can be cost-effective when it comes to reducing recidivism.
5. Using computer-assisted instructional methods benefitted prisoners slightly in reading and significantly in math.

 The authors recommend further study, including partnering researchers with correctional educators.