Educating prisoners is worth the cost

Regarding an article on prison education in Illinois, education is a huge factor in keeping former convicts from returning to prison. However, in Illinois, many prison education programs are disappearing.

Many people think these programs are too expensive and are a waste of money, but they can actually be profitable in the long run and make our state a safer place.

The cost to care for a single prisoner is around $23,000 per year, so including all of the prisoners in Illinois, we spend a ton of money keeping all of them. When prisoners recidivate, that only adds to the expenses. Although the education programs are very expensive, they are well worth the cost because they are not only maker our state safer, but they are also lowering the cost of prisoner upkeep. It is definitely an investment, but throughout the years it will end up saving money.

According to the 2015 Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council study, 97 percent of prisoners in Illinois are ultimately released. Of that group, "19 percent of those released recidivate within a year, 48 percent in three years". When prisoners recidivate that means that return to their previous criminal behavior. Nearly half the people released eventually go back to their old ways, and most likely end up in jail again. Prisoners who go through a college level education program are "43 percent less likely to recidivate."

Prison education programs are making our state a safer place, keeping many people from recidivating, and are well worth the investment.

Michael Scott

Glen Ellyn