The Impact of Postsecondary Education and Degree Attainment on Reducing Recividism

The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program (Byrne Discretionary Program) helps local communities improve the capacity of local justice systems and provides for national support efforts. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 08 Congressional Budget. Funds should be used for purposes recommended by Congress.

The Glenville State College will demonstrate the effect of post-secondary education and degree attainment on the post-release recidivism of prisoners at the Federal Correctional Institute at Gilmer, West Virginia. This project will provide the opportunity for inmates to earn an associate's degree while incarcerated. The project will target inmates already taking courses as well as others who will begin taking college courses. The Glenville State College will select participants for this research project from among those taking college courses and they will be interviewed to identify factors that may later affect recidivism, such as criminal history, prior substance use, previous education, and employment. They will also examine the impact of postsecondary education and degree attainment on post-release employment which is hypothesized to be the mechanism by which education will reduce recidivism.

NCA/NCF