The students receiving college credits at the Washington State Reformatory are grateful that Ohio University believes in them, even though their offenses are classified as “serious violent,” and their sentences run from over a decade in prison to life behind bars. If these students are in any way like their predecessors in the University Behind Bars (UBB) program, they will prove that the University’s faith in them is justified. The recidivism rate for those who graduate from this program is 12 to 33 percent, while the recidivism rate for those who do not take part is 70 percent, according to an article in the Summer 2011 issue of YES! Magazine.
Not too long ago, inmates were able to apply for Pell Grants that would enable them to participate in approximately 400 college programs located in prisons throughout America. But in 1994, as a “tough on crime” measure, inmates were no longer allowed to receive the grants, a measure that has many critics baffled. With 95 percent of prisoners released back into their communities, supporters of reinstating Pell Grants to prisoners point out that a higher level of education allows the formerly incarcerated person a better opportunity to seek and obtain employment, and therefore reduce the recidivism rate - a boon to taxpayers.
Only 0.5 percent of prisoners received Pell Grants before they were cut off, yet those opposed to prisoners receiving post-secondary education waged a campaign that decried the use of taxpayers money for such programs. The legislators listened, ignoring the fact that any program that cuts recidivism is beneficial to taxpayers.
Believing that education is a motivating factor of success, the University Behind Bars program was developed by Ohio University. UBB is set up so that any prison that wants to take part can do so. No outside university needs to be included as UBB recommends the curriculum and textbooks to be used in their Course Credit by Examination program. The prison provides the course instructors, and UBB raises the money for tuition, around $300 per class.
UBB created a Prisoners Advisory Committee that meet each week to discuss the program and iron out any glitches that might appear. The Committee also recruits other inmates for the program, and are there to help any inmate- student having difficulty.
Those who run programs like UBB find that they have obstacles in their paths, as some people still believe prisoners don’t need to be educated, and that it is a waste of money. In the fall of 2010, a meeting was held at the University of Illinois to address overcoming these obstacles. Thirty attendees from various prison college programs discussed ways to keep the programs going, despite opposition. The attendees represented colleges that have programs in place, and would like to see them expand. But, those at the conference realized that they must “fly under the radar,” teaching quietly and not calling too much attention to prison college classes. The fear that all the success that inmate-students are achieving can go up in smoke permeated the discussions. From past experience, those in the room knew that just one over zealous lawmaker still cloaked in the tatters of the tough on crime movement could rally up an army of opposition, and their programs would be crushed. Or, perhaps worse, if a student commits an act of violence while enrolled in an education course, the death knell will be deafening.
Although it wasn’t a student at Washington State Reformatory that murdered a correctional officer in 2011, everyone in the prison got caught up in the retribution that followed. All prisoners were placed on lock down, some who weren’t involved in the murder were transferred to other institutions for no apparent reason, and stricter rules were implemented. UBB and other programs were accused of “coddling” prisoners. Speaking about what lies ahead for programs such as UBB, one Washington Department of Corrections told YES!Magazine, “ (UBB)… is going to gave to use every bit of political clout (they) have, because this will set the program back 25 years.”
To those who earned over 2,000 hours of college credit since 2006, and for those who are currently enrolled, the idea that such a valuable opportunity to improve oneself might disappear with the stroke of a legislator’s pen is frightening. UBB’s program director. Stacey Reech isn’t about to let the program be closed. UBB stands committed to providing inmates at WSR, and at other prisons, the opportunity of continuing their education. Hopefully legislators will look at the recidivism rate statistics for those in the UBB program, and realize what an excellent opportunity UBB affords - promoting public safety and saving money. Instead of flying under the radar, UBB should be flying high.
Source: YES! Magazine Summer 2011 issue.
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