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How Does Implementing Programs in Prisons Impact the Inmates That Partipcate In Them? Abstract American people are unaware of the current status of the American prison system, but it is important to inform them on issues like this in order to gain their insight on next steps regarding the subject. One current issue that can use the opinion of the American public is the debate regarding programs in prisons. There are recreational and educational programs implemented in some prisons that incarcerated people have access to, but there is controversy regarding whether these programs should be continued. Topics like budget and effect on recidivism have been discussed in order to determine whether these programs should continue, be terminated, or be further implemented into the system. Studies have shown multiple times that these programs are both cost-effective as well as effective on the rates of recidivism in incarcerated people. Recent statistics have made it clear that it is both efficient for the state, as well as for the well-being of the inmates, to both implement new programs in prisons, as well as to further develop the ones that already exist. Introduction While there is a stigma around the concept of prison that prevents the general public in America from talking about the subject on a casual basis, there are many reasons that the subject should

be more understood and people should be more educated on it. For example, many people do not understand the current status of the American prisons systems. The more that people understand, the more likely chance there is for real change to be made. As it currently stands, there are very few accessible resources for people that are incarcerated in American prisons. Studies around the world have proven that incarcerated people are more often better off when given access to educational and recreational resources during incarceration than those who are not. It is important to understand just how impactful these resources can be, especially programs implemented in the prison system. By understanding how significant of an impact these programs can have on incarcerated people, decisions can be made on the effect that more developments may have on the people in the system. In this review, we will discuss the known statistics on things like budget and recidivism rates regarding both recreational and educational programs in prisons in order to determine the best steps forward on the topic. Recidivism and Programs in Prison One of the most significant topics in the ongoing conversations regarding prgrams in prisons has to do with their impact on recidivism rates in prisoners. It is an ongoing goal of those working on the American prisons to lower rates of recidivism as it means lower rates of crime, as well as lower costs associated with housing inmates. Significant efforts are made to lower recidivism rates in inmates, and many turn to implementing programs in prisons in order to make an impact on these rates. Some programs in prisons focus on life skills that can be used in the outside world in order to help inmates find a job or even drive a car. Other types of programs can help inmates learn developmental skills that can help them take care of themselves or beat addiction. Another type of programs in prisons are educational programs, with some even offering college credits to

those that are incarcerated. Studies have been done to determine whether these programs are influential on an inmate's likelihood of recommiting during and after release. One study by Courtney focused on the impacts of these programs on inmates that participated in multiple types of programs, and found that “prison education has an impact on the reduction in misconduct when compared to nonparticipation” (Courtney, 2019). These studies have found that inmates who participated in programs they were offered during their sentence were less likely to recommit upon release. By proving that these programs are directly influential on recidivism rates, the argument can be made that more programs may even make the rates go even lower. Lowering rates of recidivism is both positive for the release individuals as well as the state. Budgets and Programs in Prison One of the main arguments in opposition of the programs in prisons is the budget that is associated with the concept. While these are certain costs that cannot be overlooked, it has been proven multiple times that these costs are worth the monetary value. One of the reasons that the budget required of these programs should not deter decision-makers is because of the reimbursement of money that the state eventually ends up getting back due to the impact. As mentioned, these programs lower rates of recidivism, which lowers costs of housing inmates that may have otherwise been sent back to the prison. In The Effect of Prison Education Programs on Recidivism , one researcher named Esperian claims that it is more cost-effective to fund the programs upfront, rather than to pay for the housing of inmates that re-offend later on (Esperian, 2010). Additionally, another study found that there were lower costs associated with staffing in prisons that offered access to programs in prisons. Zhang, et, al. found that prisons that offer programs to incarcerated people “foster institutional environments that help to control prison

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management costs”, specifically related to “ costs for disciplinary actions, inmate grievances, and major disruptive incidents resulting in lockdowns” (Zhang, et, al., 2009). While it is in the best interest of any decision-maker to spend the least amount of the state’s budget as possible, it is clear that the costs associated with implementing these programs in prisons are not simply money that will be thrown out the window, but instead it is more like an investment that will pay itself off in the long run. Conclusion Current research finds that ongoing programs offered to incarcerated individuals impact rates of recidivism, state budget, well-being of incarcerated individuals, and more. Statistics show that lower rates of recidivism are observed in inmates who are offered participation in programs that are both recreational as well as educational. By implementing more of these programs and offering access to inmates, they are more likely to develop the skills they need to succeed upon release. It is important to make the American public aware of these issues due to the impact that they can have on those making the decisions about the future of these programs.

References Conway, P. F. (2023). ‘Education changes a person’: exploring student development in a college-in-prison program through critical andragogy. Teaching in Higher Education , 1–17. https://doi-org.mutex.gmu.edu/10.1080/13562517.2023.2172568 Courtney, J. A. (2019). The Relationship Between Prison Education Programs and Misconduct. Journal of Correctional Education , 70 (3), 43–59. Esperian, J. H. (2010). The Effect of Prison Education Programs on Recidivism.Journal of Correctional Education, 61(4), 316-334. http://mutex.gmu.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/effect-prison- education-programs-on-recidivism/docview/871418247/se-2 Edwards, K. (2021). Prisoners’ Perspectives on Limited Rehabilitative Program Opportunities. Qualitative Report , 26 (4), 1128–1149. https://doi-org.mutex.gmu.edu/10.46743/2160-3715/2021.4495 Nur, A. V., & Nguyen, H. (2023). Prison Work and Vocational Programs: A Systematic Review and Analysis of Moderators of Program Success. JQ: Justice Quarterly , 40 (1), 129–158. https://doi-org.mutex.gmu.edu/10.1080/07418825.2022.2026451 Kimberly A. Kaiser, Linda Keena, Alex R. Piquero & Caitlin Howley (2021) Barriers to inmate program participation in a private southern US prison, Journal of Crime and Justice, 44:2, 165-179, DOI: 10.1080/0735648X.2020.1776630 Zhang, S. X., Roberts, R. E. L., & McCollister, K. E. (2009). An economic analysis of the in-prison therapeutic community model on prison management costs. Journal of Criminal Justice , 37 (4), 388–395. https://doi-org.mutex.gmu.edu/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2009.06.006

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