Study: Education Helps Ex-Offenders Find Jobs, Earn More, and Stay out of Jail

Findings published in the American Journal of Criminal Justice, based on an analysis of research studies on the effects of prison education in the U.S., discovered that incarcerated people who get an education while serving their time have better job prospects, higher wages, and a greater chance of staying out of jail, reports The Conversation. Participating in prison education decreases the chances of recidivism from 46 percent to 39.3 percent. Education programs in prisons also reduce the likelihood of future incarceration costs. Inmates who participated in educational programs had a 3.1 percentage point higher likelihood of securing employment after release. Educated prisoners are not only more likely to find work but also more likely to find higher-paying jobs, increasing the yearly wages of employed ex-offenders by $564.