Report: few prisoners enrolling in available college classes.

Report: few prisoners enrolling in available college classes. WASHINGTON Despite mounting evidence that correctional education--andpostsecondary education in particular--can be a cost-effective approachto reducing recidivism recidivism:see criminology. , fewer than 5 percent of prisoners nationwide arecurrently enrolled in college classes, according to according toprep.1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians.2. In keeping with: according to instructions.3. a new report fromthe Institute for Higher Education Policy. Recidivism--the re-arrest, reconviction or return to prison offormer prisoners--has contributed to a rapidly growing prison populationin the United States United States,officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. that costs American taxpayers nearly $30 billionannually. To better understand the status, funding and implementation ofpostsecondary correctional education programs in the United States, theinstitute conducted a national survey that yielded input fromcorrectional education administrators in 45 states and the FederalBureau of Prisons Noun 1. Federal Bureau of Prisons - the law enforcement agency of the Justice Department that operates a nationwide system of prisons and detention facilities to incarcerate inmates sentenced to imprisonment for federal crimesBoP . Results of the survey, along with additional data andanalysis, are detailed in the new report, "Learning to ReduceRecidivism: A 50-State Analysis of Postsecondary Correctional EducationPolicy." In 2003-2004, approximately 85,000 prisoners--fewer than 5 percentof the total prison population--were taking college courses, accordingto the report. Interestingly, the vast majority of incarcerated incarcerated/in��car��cer��at��ed/ (in-kahr��ser-at?ed) imprisoned; constricted; subjected to incarceration. in��car��cer��at��edadj.Confined or trapped, as a hernia. students takingpart in higher education--89 percent--were enrolled in programs in 15prison systems that awarded 96 percent of all degrees and certificatesgranted to prisoners nationwide. But contrary to popular perceptions,prison inmates have not been receiving free college degrees, even at theassociate level, in any significant numbers. Of those prisoners whoearned a credential in 2003-2004, 92 percent were enrolled in vocationalcertificate programs for college credit. "Prisoners are serving longer sentences than in the past butare frequently released without the education or skills necessary tofind productive employment," says Jamie Merisotis, president of theinstitute. "Offering postsecondary education to inmates seems less'soft on crime' and more a cost-effective means to reducerecidivism and gain control of the mounting tax burden." The report and survey reveal a number of barriers to greaterenrollment of those eligible in postsecondary correctional education.Survey respondents identified limited funding, restrictive eligibilitycriteria, conflicting administrative priorities, poor academicpreparation and logistical problems such as security concerns andfrequent reassignments that interrupt coursework as some of the greatestobstacles. Most of all, survey respondents indicated that lack ofsupport from policymakers and the public magnifies these barriers andmakes providing consistent programming more challenging. To address these challenges, the report calls for a national effortto build public support for postsecondary correctional education as animportant means to reduce recidivism, and includes a series ofrecommendations and specific funding policy changes, such as reinstatePell Grant The Pell Grant program is a type of post-secondary, educational federal grant program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. It is named after U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell and originally known as the the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant program. eligibility for prisoners; expand the Incarcerated YouthOffender Grant program; allocate additional state funds to the publiccolleges and universities that provide instruction for postsecondarycorrectional education programs; allow prisoners to receive state grantsfor low-income students; and diversify prison system funding to includepublic and private sources. The report is available online at <www.ihep.org>.