Investing in Prison Education and Job Training Pays Off for Everyone

Research confirms what reform advocates have long argued: education and workforce training programs in prisons significantly reduce the chances of reoffending and improve employment outcomes after release. A recent report from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy compiles the most comprehensive meta-analysis on this topic to date.

Authored by Steven Sprick Schuster and Ben Stickle—professors at Middle Tennessee State University—the report draws on their collaboration with the university’s Political Economy Research Institute. Reviewing 78 high-quality studies and 148 effect sizes, they found that prison education and workforce development programs reduce recidivism by 14.8%. Participants are 6.9% more likely to gain employment post-release and earn an average of $131 more per quarter in wages (Sprick Schuster & Stickle, 2024).

“This research makes clear that investment in prison-based education and workforce training programs produces both safer communities and positive economic returns,” said David Guenthner, vice president for government affairs at the Mackinac Center. “We all benefit from having more ex-offenders equipped to earn their success in the workforce.”

With the United States holding the sixth highest incarceration rate in the world, about five in every 1,000 people are currently behind bars (World Prison Brief, 2023). The financial burden is substantial: an estimated $182 billion per year is spent on prisons, law enforcement, courts, and related costs (Wagner & Rabuy, 2017).

As a former incarcerated individual, I can tell you that earning a degree and certification while incarcerated was one of the best things that I did. Not only did it enable me to immediately find employment upon release, it was a personal challenge that I gave myself (to make the most of my time while incarcerated) and ultimately allowed me to gain my confidence back. It was in prison, that I made the first step toward reclaiming my identity—not as a statistic, but as a student.

Many individuals caught in the justice system are repeat offenders, leading states to turn to education and training programs as cost-saving and public safety strategies.

The Mackinac report evaluated a variety of prison education models—adult basic education, GED programs, vocational training, and college courses—and assessed their outcomes on recidivism, employment, and earnings. The findings show that college education programs yield the greatest benefit to individuals, while vocational training programs provide the highest return on investment from a taxpayer perspective. All program types analyzed produced positive ROI, even without accounting for indirect benefits like reduced crime and fewer victims.

Despite the strong evidence, access remains limited.

“Even in more forward-thinking states like Michigan, only a minuscule percentage of the inmates released back into society have access to these programs,” said Guenthner. “We will work with our research team and policymakers to lay out a path to substantially expanding these programs.”

In short, giving people behind bars the tools to succeed after release isn't just the right thing to do—it’s also a smart investment in safer communities and a more effective use of public funds.

Citations:

• Sprick Schuster, S., & Stickle, B. (2024). Do Prison Education and Workforce Programs Work? Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Link

• Wagner, P., & Rabuy, B. (2017). Following the Money of Mass Incarceration. Prison Policy Initiative. Link

• World Prison Brief. (2023). Highest to Lowest – Prison Population Rate. Link