By Kevin Kiley
USA Today
WASHINGTON — Lack of state and federal support, restrictions on financial aid, and legal barriers that limit Internet access in prisons all hinder inmates’ access to higher education, according to a report released today by the Institute for Higher Education Policy.
Removing these barriers, the report argues, could help reduce prison populations over time and save states money by helping inmates find jobs upon release, and by reducing recidivism rates.
But because state governments and the federal government are facing cuts, and because diverting financial resources to benefit inmates is not a politically palatable option, the chance that such reforms will be enacted seems slim. Texas lawmakers recently called for higher education programs in prisons to be cut after it was discovered that few inmates had repaid the state for educational services.
Full Story: Increasing inmate accessibility to higher ed could help states