Education Reductions in Prisons Put at Risk Public Safety, Watchdog Warns

Reductions to learning initiatives within correctional institutions are disrupting prisoners' work and training opportunities, ultimately posing a risk to public security, according to a new report from a correctional watchdog body.

Cycle of Repeat Crimes Linked to Lack of Education

Repeat criminals often create disorder in their communities due to the inability of correctional facilities to supply adequate education and work opportunities that could help disrupt the pattern of reoffending, the analysis stated.

I hold significant concerns about the effect of real-terms education budget reductions on already inadequate provision and about the absence of real appetite and ambition for progress that this represents.”

Funding Cuts Endanger Reform Initiatives

Despite promises to improve availability to education, spending on frontline educational services in correctional institutions is being reduced by up to 50%, according to latest reports.

While the overall education allocation has stayed unchanged, the cost of course agreements has soared, according to correctional administrators.

• Only 31% of former inmates are employed half a year after release
• Ninety-four of 104 closed facilities were rated “inadequate” or “below standard” for purposeful activity
• Typical attendance in training activities was just 67% in reviewed institutions

Inadequate Situations Hinder Reform

Crowded conditions, a lack of workshop space, equipment breakdowns, and ageing facilities have compounded the situation, according to the report.

Many prisoners wait for extended periods to be allocated an training spot and are often assigned any is open, rather than training applicable to their employment opportunities upon release.

Although activities went ahead, full-day jobs generally occupied prisoners for just a limited time per day, with many positions split into partial slots to extend meagre provision more widely.

Official Position and Future Plans

The prison system has a responsibility to protect the community by making prisoners less inclined to commit crimes again when they are released, but too often it is falling short to meet this responsibility.

The best administrators know that jails, and in the end our communities, are safer if inmates are purposefully engaged, and that training, training and work play a crucial role in encouraging prisoners to change their behavior.

It is understood that purposeful engagement can help to enable safe and decent prisons and have a positive effect on recidivism levels.”

Unless leaders in the correctional service take the provision of effective training and training more seriously, it is difficult to see how extremely high reoffending levels can be lowered.

Funding reductions are also expected to impede initiatives to introduce a new incentive-based prison regime that would allow prisoners to earn reductions their sentence by finishing employment, training and education courses.