What is a dream? An idea, a thought, perhaps someone’s vision of the future. Moreover, what shapes a dream into the realities of tomorrow? One’s hopes, deepest desires, or perhaps one’s own experience. You see, everyone dreams but only a select few are truly dreamers. A true dreamer is not confined by the limitations that most are suffocated by. A dreamer can see beyond the challenges of today and into the endless possibilities of tomorrow. These dreams can often seem unrealistic, and yet they carry with them utmost value as they usher in real purpose. A true dreamer dreams a dream that depicts a day unlike any other.
My dream is simple yet quite complicated, plausible but seemingly impossible. I envision a future when recidivism after incarceration is the exception and not the standard. What would society look like if most of the incarcerated individuals released from prison never reoffend? I dream of a day when society is totally and completely committed to rehabilitating the incarcerated population through education. Some skeptics like James Wilson find it peculiar that society believes that “serious criminals can be rehabilitated,” and that “our optimistic assumptions about human nature are unrealistic” (qtd in Clear and Cole 68). However, others believe that education is the key to unlocking significantly lower recidivism rates, saving money and improving public safety in the process. In my dream, there is a dramatic shift in the value placed on the life of an incarcerated individual, and a resounding belief that once educated the individual would be better equipped to contribute to society, dignified and purpose driven.
The men and women that fill the prisons across the country have broken laws and they have damaged the trust of the public in the process, but they are not broken. Some of these instances of lawlessness were quite heinous, while others stemmed from a mere lapse in judgement. Some individuals were influenced by various environmental, cultural, and social elements during their upbringing which contributed to this path, while others, for reasons unknown, choose a life of utter lawlessness. Prisons are full of men and women form both ends of the spectrum, but each incarcerated person shares two commonalities with all other people, that being their inherent worth as a person deserving of dignity, and an ability to change. During the last 14 years of my life as an incarcerated person, I have witnessed many individuals lives undergo this process of transformation. Many of these men have learned a trade or have received a formal education through various programs. Earning an education is a major accomplishment, one that builds real life skills in the process, skills that will better empower someone to become future community members.
The catalyst behind a lifestyle that eventually leads to incarceration is a lack of education. Howard Skolnik, the director of the Nevada department of corrections noted that, “The general population recidivism rate for released felons is approximately 70%. This figure is reduced to 6% for those who achieve a college education” (qtd in Esperian 325). In a similar discussion concerning the staggering numbers of inmates (roughly 60%) who cannot read above a sixth-grade level. Harriet Gagiliano, a criminal behavior expert, determines that this statistic “provides some indication of one major reason for their criminal activity” (Gagiliano 68). Furthermore, in a study by the U. S. Department of Education, Stevin Klein states that “American prisoners have the highest levels of illiteracy and educational disability,” concluding that, “considering the vast numbers of inmates that do not possess the basic social and educational skills that they need to function in society, it should come as no surprise that many of these released from prison or jail will eventually return” (Burton 8). It’s a sad fact that many individuals cannot even fill out a simple request form because they cannot read or write. Someone left in this state is on a fixed trajectory, doomed to repeat the cruel cycle of incarceration, over and over again. The overwhelming need for more educational opportunities for the incarcerated is crystal clear.
In a similar fashion, obtaining an education increases an individual’s chances to be successful upon their release. The following statistics support the position that education significantly reduces the prospect for re-offense. In a U.S. Department of Justice report, it is noted that, “Prison-based education is the single most effective tool for lowering recidivism;” moreover, “the more education successfully completed for each six months confirmed the lower recidivism rates. The exact figures indicating these inverse recidivism rates for degree recipients were Associates (13.7%), Baccalaureates (5.6%), Masters (0%), (Education Newsletter 11 3). According to these figures, the recidivism rates for an individual who receives an associate’s degree drop down to 13%, with recipients of a bachelor’s degree down to 5%. When this is compared to the stunning numbers (about 70% recidivism) for the average incarcerated individual, it demonstrates the necessity for college programs inside prison in order to quell recidivism and make the communities safer by returning rehabilitated community members, not simply felons. Having witnessed firsthand the benefits on an incarcerated person of earning a college education, I’ve noticed that it changes something within the individual. Doing the hard work it takes to earn an education awakens something within a person, a certain determination that may have existed at one point but was quenched by one’s experiences in life. This kindling propels the individual with a newfound purpose and direction. In short, education redirects an individual’s path and in turn saves their life.
Education must advance to the forefront in this great battle against recidivism. Too many people – mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters, are being released every day from prisons across the country without an education and without a plan for success. This will only change when you – the members of the public and voice on the outside get behind this idea and champion it yourselves. Legislation must change in support for college prison programs. State prison budgets must change in favor of more college programs for the incarcerated, and higher education incentives are a must. You must speak up in your communities and take to social media platforms to bring awareness to this dire need. Additionally, when the extraordinary cost of housing and caring for an incarcerated individual is compared to the coast of providing an education, it becomes evident that education is cheaper on the state in the long run. Gerald Gaes, a professor of criminal justice at Florida State University asserts, “Education for current and former prisoners is a cost-effective solution to reducing reoffending and improving public safety. The effect of education on recidivism has been demonstrated, and even small reductions in reoffending can have a significant impact when spread across large numbers of participants” (qtd in Esperian 332). While some may feel that it’s unfair or uneconomical to spend more taxpayer dollars on education for the incarcerated population, it’s important to consider that many of these individuals will be released to a community near you in the future. How would you like them coming back to you? Communities need educated individuals who can successfully integrate and contribute to society upon coming home from prison, not future recidivists.
Education changes an individual, opening up their mind to new thought patterns and brings awareness to the wide world around them. Kirston Angell is one such example of an individual who was uneducated when he entered the prison system but dedicated his time to learning in order to attain overall betterment. He is currently serving a 30 plus year sentence for a crime committed when he was 16 years old. However, over the last 20 years has completed multiple programs, classes, and earned a bachelor’s degree. When I asked him about the education he received and its effects on him he stated, “These classes have helped shape the person I’ve become.” He further claims that “Not only will education help individuals secure better jobs upon release from prison, but it will also help the learner see many different worldviews and perspectives concerning life, morality, societal function, politics, government, religion, communication, and relationships.” Mr. Angell has been shaped into a new man, transformed by his desire to change and by the effects of his newfound education.
I have also been fortunate enough to earn a college education during the course of my incarceration. In 2017, inside of a North Carolina prison, I began the arduous process of working towards a longtime dream of mine, becoming a college graduate. This dream of mine finally became a reality in December of 2021. After four and a half years of hard work, COVID, and many long nights studying, I completed the N.C Field Minister program and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Pastoral Ministry with an emphasis in Counseling from the College at Southeastern. Education has changed the course of my life, altering my perspectives and giving me a renewed purpose. As a Field Minister – an individual who has been educated and equipped to go out to various facilities in order to promote change from within the prison system, I find myself in a unique position where I can demonstrate change and also encourage others to embrace change as well. This usually comes in the form of promoting education and other various programs as I encourage guys to think about their future and the specific steps they can take to be rehabilitated and successful in their community upon release. I am thankful that I have this opportunity to help others find their own means of change with the hope that they will one day return to their homes as valued community members.
Each day an individual spends learning is a day not wasted. Embracing this philosophy to the fullest I have become a life-long learner, and I never discount what I might learn from someone else. I still dream to one day earn a master’s in Christian counseling, with the goal that I would be better equipped to help my neighbor, while proving to myself that I can overcome any obstacle. Dream with me for a moment and consider the possibilities if this level of education were available to every interested party within the incarcerated population. The ramifications for such a dream are quite literally limitless. It would forever alter the futures of the individuals, but it would not stop there, it would also impact their families and communities. Think of the overall effect on the youth when mom or dad earns a college degree during their incarceration. The impact of available education for the incarcerated would ripple throughout the country for generations to come. Now, if you find this statement to be overly grandiose in the least, then clearly, you’re not a true dreamer.
Works Cited
Angell, M. Kirston. Personal Interview. 29 January, 2025.
Burton, Heather D. “Reducing Recidivism Through Prison Education” Web. (Abstract) N.pn.d.
Clear, Todd R., and George F. Cole. American Corrections. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1994 Print.
“Education as Crime Prevention.” Education Services Newsletter. Issue II. NDOC. Web. Spring, 2009. 2-3
Esperian John H. The Effect of Prison Education Programs on Recidivism. Vol. 61, No. 4 (December 2010), pp. 316-334.
Gagliano, Harriet R. Prison Education Programs as Factors in Inmate Recidivism Rates. (UNLV doctoral dissertation). 1989. Print.
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