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Prison Education is a Formula for Success and Oklahoma Has all the Right Parts
In recent years, Oklahoma has been among the nation’s leaders in its high rate of incarceration, and a big part of the reason is repeat offenders and a high rate of prison recidivism. Today, an opportunity to change the situation dramatically is available. This formula for success includes broad access to higher education, proven in virtually every study to be the leading cure for prison recidivism. Now is the time for all of Oklahoma to seize the opportunity.
A recent meta-study by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, based on a review of 750 research papers, showed that prison education programs are a net positive, both for taxpayers and former prisoners. For every dollar spent on prison education programs a reduction of five dollars in future incarceration costs is seen. The research shows that college prison education programs yield a return of investment of 61% in savings due to lower recidivism of the educated inmate. The best research shows that providing higher educational opportunities to incarcerated individuals reduces recidivism by up to 90 percent while boosting employment opportunities and income for participants once they leave prison. No other programs have shown the dramatic effect nationwide on lowering recidivism than higher education.
Sustainable funding has always been a challenge for prison education programs. However, all eligible incarcerated individuals can access federally-funded Pell Grants beginning this fall. Additionally, on February 28th the Oklahoma Senate approved SB 11, sponsored by Senator Rader, that provides access to the Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant (OTAG) program for the incarcerated. The House is poised to review the bill sponsored in the House by Representative Pae in April. A responsible affirmative vote would send the bill to Governor Stitt.
In 2021, the State of Oklahoma distributed tablets to Oklahoma prisoners so that every incarcerated person can easily access educational content. Coordinated and overseen by the Department of Corrections, the tablets provide incarcerated individuals with a suite of services to improve communication with family, gain access to re-entry resources and access educational content. This tablet technology will provide a platform to expand higher education to all corners of the state using online curriculum. When coupled with tuition assistance, the stage is set for a dramatic new day in incarceration in Oklahoma.
Already, key educational partners have established college-based programs where incarcerated individuals are enrolled as university students in pursuit of degrees. For example, 21 students are enrolled at Oklahoma Christian University (OC) through a program based at Mabel Bassett Correctional Center (MBCC). Faculty from OC travel to MBCC to teach the courses in a face-to-face model. Oklahoma Baptist University has a similar Prison Divinity Program at the Lexington facility with 70 students. Other institutions, such as Rose State College have programs as well that could thrive under the new technology and new funding.
The State of Oklahoma has an opportunity to rapidly expand prison education that includes a sustainable source of funding, broad access to educational content using tablet technology and key partners to ensure success. The outcome will be a resounding success for both taxpayers and prisoners, by decreasing recidivism and increasing post-prison employment opportunities. Now is the time to help all of Oklahoma through prison education.
- Jeff McCormack, Board of Trustees Chair
