In achieving a higher education while incarcerated, social skills are obtained, enhancing self-worth that can reduce recidivism rates.
A higher education in prison makes available cognitive and psychological skill sets, giving a person the capability to self-advocate, with hopes of coping with life after prison, according to the Journal of Higher Education in Prison.
“I think higher education articulates people’s critical thinking skills,” said Frances Santiago, a Learning Specialist for Mount Tamalpais College at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. “Basically across the board college supports executive functioning skills.”
According to Santiago, her efforts entail boosting students’ confidence through reaffirming their success, “because their voice matters.” She added that teachers get to rewrite the narrative so that incarcerated students know they are cared about.
The college experience allows students the capacity to resolve conflicting viewpoints, which are a necessary skill for pro-social communicating inside “overcrowded” prisons.
Mt. Tam’s curriculum is based on the well being of the students. Their coursework includes writing, ethics, and debate classes. Some courses also address the development to tolerate uncertainty, in handling “stressful situations,” according to the Journal.
“[College] curriculi challenged my thoughts and understanding beyond the basic knowledge provided to me in secondary school levels,” said San Quentin resident Pheng Ly, who earned an AA degree while incarcerated.
Tony de Trinidad, who earned an AA degree at Mt. Tam in June 2024, stated that college classes taught him how to demystify his struggles, including a public speaking course that taught him the importance of conveying his narrative.
“I’m the only one who knows my story,” he said. “The audience only knows what I tell them.”
Mt. Tam’s study hall, where students prepare for their daily classes, displays photos of 53 formerly incarcerated students, all of whom have paroled within the past two to three years. The photos are meant to serve as inspiration for current students.
Terry Hall, a former Mt. Tam student who paroled in 2024, sent a message back inside along with his photo after his release.
“The day you stop learning is the day you no longer draw breath,” Hall said.
According to the Journal of Correctional Education, recidivism is to return to criminal behavior, which is sometimes measured between two to three years after release.
JCE cited 60% of incarcerated people read below a sixth grade level, causing “some” indication for recidivism.
In another report by the US Department of Justice, obtaining an education in prison lowers the recidivism rate significantly.
A report by the National Correctional Association states incarcerated individuals that earn associates degrees are 70% less likely to recidivate, and those with a GED are 25% less likely to return to prison, according JCE.
Other programs catered towards higher education for incarcerated people show positive impacts and signs of reform.
There are 51,000 men and 2,400 women incarcerated in the State of New York, 950 have access to higher learning, according to Ken Burns’ Film College behind bars.
Bard University’s Prison Initiative operates in the New York Correctional System, offering full-time AA and BA programs for men and women, according to Justice Quarterly.
The students in the BPI college program take on 12-16 units per semester and meet two hours twice a week, including with tutors outside of classes.
Justice Quarterly’s data indicate a positive correlation between education and success after incarceration.
The three largest racial groups that participated in the Initiative, Black and Hispanic students’ recidivism rates are less than 0.05%. Among White students, the rate is less than 0.1%.
In addition, JCE cites that people convicted of felonies are as dangerous as they were before sentencing, because prisons do not reform.
Justice Quarterly states that prisons are correctional facilities in name only; the more appropriate title would be “a long term storage locker.”
“He who opens a school door, closes a prison,” said Victor Hugo 19th century author.
