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Decreases to learning offerings within correctional institutions are hindering prisoners' work and skill development opportunities, in the long run creating danger to community security, according to a new report from a correctional oversight agency.

Pattern of Reoffending Linked to Lack of Education

Habitual offenders often cause disorder in their communities due to the inability of prisons to supply sufficient education and work programs that could help break the pattern of reoffending, the analysis indicated.

“I have serious worries about the effect of inflation-adjusted education funding reductions on already insufficient services and about the absence of real appetite and ambition for improvement that this represents.”

Budget Reductions Threaten Reform Efforts

Despite promises to improve access to education, funding on direct educational services in prisons is being cut by up to 50%, per recent reports.

Although the overall training budget has stayed unchanged, the cost of course contracts has soared, according to prison administrators.

• Only 31% of former prisoners are employed six months after release
• 94 of 104 closed facilities were rated “inadequate” or “below standard” for purposeful activity
• Typical participation in training programs was just 67% in reviewed prisons

Insufficient Conditions Hinder Reform

Overcrowding, a lack of training space, equipment failures, and ageing facilities have worsened the situation, per the report.

Many prisoners remain for weeks to be allocated an training spot and are often given whatever is available, rather than training relevant to their career prospects upon leaving.

Even when activities proceeded, full-time positions generally engaged inmates for just five hours per day, with numerous positions divided into part-time places to extend meagre provision more widely.

Government Position and Future Plans

The prison system has a duty to safeguard the community by making inmates less inclined to reoffend when they are freed, but frequently it is falling short to fulfill this obligation.

The best administrators know that prisons, and in the end our society, are more secure if prisoners are purposefully engaged, and that education, training and employment play a vital role in encouraging inmates to change their behavior.

“We know that meaningful activity can help to enable secure and decent prisons and have a positive effect on recidivism levels.”

Until leaders in the correctional service take the delivery of high-quality training and skill development more seriously, it is difficult to see how extremely high recidivism levels can be lowered.

Funding cuts are also likely to impede efforts to introduce a new reward-driven prison system that would enable prisoners to earn reductions their incarceration by finishing employment, training and education programs.