Education and Employment

The Issue

When a person is incarcerated, a tremendous opportunity exists to provide him or her with basic reading, writing, and math skills; a trade that is useful in the marketplace; and, sometimes, an advanced degree. Too often, this opportunity is lost because the class slots available are limited, not varied, or poorly timed; because programming does not correspond to the person's skill levels; or because the individual is not sufficiently interested in participating in the programs.

Challenges

  • Poor basic education and marketable skills among people who are incarcerated
  • Insufficient opportunities for people in prison and jail to participate in vocational or educational programs
  • Work assignments or training provided during incarceration that do not always correspond to jobs available in the community
  • Inadequate job opportunities, especially for people with few skills, in the communities to which prisoners return
  • Statutory and regulatory barriers, in addition to employer concerns generally, regarding the employment of people with criminal records
  • Lack of coordination between otherwise effective workforce systems and departments of correction

 Our Publications

Repaying Debts

This publication discusses how policymakers can increase accountability among people who commit crimes, improve rates of child support collection and victim restitution, and make people’s transition from prisons and jails to the community safe and successful.

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