Space and Opportunity

Access to Higher Education Is Absolutely Essential for People Who Are Incarcerated

A Blog Post by Chasman Barnes

Incarcerated men take classes to increase their level of education. Photo: UCF Prison Project

The United States of America has long been described as the “land of opportunity.”

Millions of people have immigrated to this great country in search of better opportunities to prosper personally and to secure the lineage of their families and generations.

One of the many opportunities that have been sought out is higher education.

Many people can testify to the advantages of a college education in obtaining a well-paying job, an edge in entrepreneurship, or a beginning link in a legacy chain for children and their children.

Imagine how people currently incarcerated and heading toward a return to society feel about that same opportunity.

While incarcerated, many people take the time to reflect on their past decisions and examine what specific actions paved the road to incarceration. An often lamented regret is not having pursued adult education or higher education.

Currently and recently incarcerated people want to improve their chances of finding a job and taking care of their families upon release. As a result, incarcerated citizens muster the courage to pick up where they left off and pursue higher education.

Their eyes on the prize of earning a degree and a better life, they apply to a college or university, only to run into one of the most debilitating hurdles: money.

It Costs Too Much!

Image of a graduation cap, money in a jar, and letters that spell “student debt.” Photo: Envato Elements stock footage

Many incarcerated people can’t access postsecondary education, not because they don’t want to learn or are limited in their ability, but because they can’t afford high tuition rates and other mitigating costs associated with earning a degree.

In a 2017 fact sheet for correctional leaders, the Prison Policy Initiative helped us see why the issue of tuition matters so much. These are the benefits that we lose out on when incarcerated people cannot access higher education:

• Public safety: Incarcerated people who participate in prison education programs are 43 percent less likely to recidivate than those who do not. Fewer crimes and less rule-breaking on post-release supervision lead to fewer crime victims and enable probation and parole agencies to concentrate their resources on their riskiest supervisees.
• Facility safety: Prisons with college programs have fewer violent incidents, creating safer working conditions for staff and safer living environments for incarcerated people.
• Preparing for post-release jobs and successful reentry: By 2020, 65 percent of jobs will require postsecondary education and training beyond high school.
• However, only 11 percent of incarcerated people in state prisons and 24 percent of those in federal prisons have completed at least some postsecondary education.
• Taxpayer savings/Return on investment: Every dollar invested in prison-based education yields $4 to $5 of taxpayer savings in reduced incarceration costs.
• Stronger families and communities: When parents — including those who are incarcerated — complete college, their children are more likely to do so, thereby disrupting the typical cycle of poverty and incarceration.

This evidence shows why we must address barriers to higher education for incarcerated people in Florida. These individuals are committed to their self-betterment but need financial and institutional access.

What We’re Fighting For

A middle-aged man attends a college class with other young adults. Photo: Envato Elements stock footage

We at the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC) know that removing barriers to opportunity for justice-impacted people helps reduce recidivism and create safer communities for everyone. We believe in the human dignity of people who are and have been incarcerated and recognize that they come from and are part of our communities.

During the 2023 legislative session, we support legislation that provides a pathway for current and recently incarcerated individuals to remain or become in-state residents for tuition purposes. This legislation would reduce financial barriers to higher education and reentry.

Make Your Voice Heard

You can help by contacting your legislators in the Florida House and Senate and asking them to support House Bill 595 and Senate Bill 526.

Chasman is a Policy Professional, Advocate for Returning Citizens in Criminal and Social Justice Reform, TEDx Speaker, and sought-after Communicator.