Should prisoners be able to get a college or university degree while in prison?

Well I feel that it depends on the severity of the prisoner's crimes, if a prisoner has not committed a serious crime such as murder or other crimes in that category and if he or she has the possibility of being paroled and reintegrated in to society then it might be helpful for them to change there lives and become better people by receiving some kind of education, because how can they get work or do anything useful in the work force without a decent education. But I dont think its a good idea for people who are spending life without the possibility of prole to be allowed the privilege of a degree becuse they will never be released into society and of course in there case thats a good thing, that they will not be paroled, but I think for those prisoners who may only be spending a year or two or a little longer and they will be getting out then it its not a bad idea for them to further there education.

after they have committed a crime, all their benefits should stop including the right to vote. this should include getting a college degree. i dont think it is fair for someone to work hard to save money to get a degree while someone who has broke the law gets one for free.

Well just think of it that he truly transformed himself as a good citizen. If he was not in jail I do not think he would every think of getting an education fro himself but continue to become a criminal himself. That is why he was applauded for being so. In your case, your daughter is already a good citizen and need not have to become bad just for the free education. And getting education by your own effort is a worthwhile endeavor than having it inside the jail. I am pretty sure your daughter had not wasted some time while the prisoner did have lose so many precious time already and getting the free education is just to redeem himself from the lost time he has wasted in life.

I understand that it can be very disheartening that prisoners get a free education at "university". I also imagine, I don't have research on the numbers, that there are not a lot of prisoners who are actually completing the university degree program. It is not pleasant for prisoners who want to continue their education (most of them have to complete high school first. After completing their high school requirements, they must be on their best behavior which can be difficult while one is in prison. They frequently are not in the most congenial environment and it is easy for them to break the rules, just trying to keep themselves from harm from other prisoners. Then they are allowed to take courses. Frequently they cannot actually attend the class, mostly this is done via mail. They must study in a very noisy and unfriendly environment (most prisoners don't appreciate educational opportunities or the prisoners who use those opportunities. The prisoner usually has no other students to interact with and frequently the only support they get if from the facilitator of the educational program. The prisoner frequently is not able to take a full load thus even tough he/she is getting a free education, they must take at least twice as long to finish their degree. Besides their studies the prisoner will have other duties that must attend to. Also, they are not allowed to study all night. Lights out is lights out. They have no control over there life. They must get up when the prison staff tell them to, they eat when they are told and usually have less than 15 minutes (or maybe less), and sometimes they must fight with other inmates to get their alloted meal. There are set times to do everything. A prisoners time is not their own. These prisoners not only are unable to interact with other students, have limited access to library books, very limited access to the internet (some times this is not allowed at all). I can't imagine anyone really wanting to attend University in this matter. There are a lot of downers to this education as well as having a prison record for the remainder of hteir life. I am really sorry if it is disconcerting that your tax dollars are pay for a few very dedicated prisoners to get the university degree. The few prisoners that are getting University degrees are really amazing people. And they will be helpful to society in that they are unlikely to re-offend. They will undoubtedly find a job, not as good as other people with a University degree and will work diligently at the low pay and be gainfully employed and pay taxes for the rest of his/her work life. They may even be a little resentful because being let out of prison does not necsaarily release them from all restrictions. Depending on the conditions of their release, the type of their offense, etc. Just a student of criminal justice. And I want to remind everyone that being in prison is no picnic. And educating the few prisoners who will accept it. It not only keeps them busy and not plotting to take over the prison, but it makes them productive citizens when they are release. And very few prisons are not released. Isn't it better to have them gainfully employed to returning to prioson again and again. It's your tax dollars and it is a choice you can make. (Assuming you live in a democracy-few countries that are not democracies of one kind or another, offer education to their prisoners.) Cheers (I know Ive been rambling). Good luck to your daughter in her future endevors and I hope that she is able to put her costly education to good use.

no!! i don't think they should be allowed to do that. i think they should have to work at hard labor all day every day. they go in after doing horrible things & are treated like they are guest at a hotel. they live alot better than alot of good citizens are able to do.i think it's ridiculous that they are treated as guests instead of the heathrens that they are. i don't feel sorry for them they have broken the law. you know your tax dollars are paying for them to do that while your daughter & other deserving kids are left out in the cold when it comes to sending them to college.

Hi there! Definitely not. There's no need for your daughter to go to prison to get free education. Schools offers scholarship programs. The requirement I think is for your daughter to take an examination, like an application. If she qualifies then she could get free education. Maybe you can also ask help from the government or agency concerned with education. But I think she still needs to take some kind of examination and maybe you will also be investigated to see if you can't afford to give your daughter a good education. Hope that helps. Ciao!

I think prisoners should only be allowed to receive education based on two things. First of all, if I were to go get an education, I would have to pay for it and I am a good citizen who does not commit crimes so that being said, prisoners should have to pay for their education as well! Secondly, it would depend on the crime.....I don't think murderers and rapists deserve any kind of special treatment. Petty criminals on the other hand deserve a second chance....

sandymay48, That's one of those questions that are "darned if you do and darned if you don't". Tax payers are either complaining that prisoners are lolling around on our dime and doing nothing but getting "2 hots and a cot", so why don't we train them to become productive members of society? Then if they are trained in either a blue collar or white collar job, tax payers are complaining that they have no right to be getting training. There's only so many hallways that can be swept or mopped while in jail. So, to give them a chance to become productive members of society, some are given the chance to get a college degree. Granted in some cases it's a wasted effort because they end up back in jail and back on our dime, but what do you think the cost would be if a prisoner just served the time, was let out of jail with no training of any kind would be? DCMerkle

woo.good point.I have never thought about this.the cost is really large to attend university in your country,but I don't think criminals should get the education for free,they should do something to pay for the tuition

Well, I think you should also consider that hopefully this inmate and any other that receives a degree will be able to find employment, make a decent living and be a productive member of society. As opossed to an inmate that doesn't get an education and just a prison record who will find it extremely difficult to make a living wage and who has a high probability of ending up back in prison, where more money will be spent on keeping him there not accomplishing anything. I wish I could quote you some numbers on how much it takes to house and feed an inmate in a federal prison for say, a year, but I think 15-20K to keep someone out and give them a new life is reasonable. I would however like to see some statics on how successful these type of programs are.

Hnnnnn, what to writeSurely a person in prison can obtain degrees even here in India but serpent tempered me should kill some one and be there for some years and come out? nope, not my nature. well then.... Come on I have got lots of money to get that degree and why should I unnecessarily kill some body.

I think it is great that prisoners want to do something with themselves and get a proper education, but it hurts me to hear this, because I cannot afford to go to school. Should I rob a bank, then get a free education? Seriously, the education program on this planet is absurd. I think that if they want to get an education while in prison, they should have to agree to take out loans. They have small jobs in prison, those could go towards the loans. Obviously I don't mean that the prisoners should be enrolled in a university with thousands of dollars spent on tuition, but there are community college courses that are like 300 dollars a piece (which I still can not afford at this time in my life) but while working a few hours each night and not paying for food and shelter, these inmates can actually prove themselfs while working for an education.

I think education can keep them busy in prison. That way they'll stay out of fight. Besides, I think they will feel that they worth more than just prisoners and will influence them to look forward of something more in their life.

I think that is better than to leave them in prison with out doing nothing productive, i think when people are educated it changes completly the way they see things and also it gives them more chances to get jobs once they come out of prison wich means they will have a legit way to sustain themselves and wont have to go back to crime. I think is a very good thing.

I don't think your daughter should have committed a crime to get a so-called "free" college education. Look at it this way. We all pay for the upkeep of prisons and to feed the prison population and educate them . It is a waste of human capital to deny those prisoners who have the ability and motivation to aspire to a higher education because we would not do society any good. Providing of course the prisoners are suitable. I don't think a mass murderer should or would obtain a degree in prison. Those prisoners who are able to obtain an education in prison are not likely to re-offend thus saving us money, but they also can relate to people on the brink of offending, in particular young people and can serve as role models for those in danger of committing a crime that will land them in prison.

Yes I'd recommend that she begin by robbing a bank. If she is smart, and lucky, she might be able to steal enough to put herself through University. Failing that, if she gets caught, then she gets a free education in Prison. Now what could be easier than that? Life has a way of working out for everyone!

Perhaps we are coming at this from the wrong side. Is it fair that your child has too pay so much for a decent education? As far as the prison inmate is concerned I am a great believer that it is the loss of liberty that is the punishment and that prison should offer some form of rehabilitation that enables a person to reform and become a functioning memeber of society. It would be fair to assume that a prisoner who achieved a degree and therefore better job would become a higher paying tax payer so one would in effect get greater recompense to society by greater tax payments after realease (assuming a former criminal could get a job). A degree is not just a case of participation and I think if the criminal makes the effort to obtain a degree he should be assisted not hindered. As for your daughter I personally believe the cost of a degree should be reduced or funded any investment by society in a persons education reaps vast rewards in the long run for that society. It would be why I strongly supported Obama's platform of education for community service.

I think that this is horrible. what is it saying to the youth in our country? That it is better to commit a crime and then you do not have to pay for college. This story really bothers me because I am a college student. Going to school full time does not really allow me to work. Neither of my parents make a large amount of money per year either. I get really good grades in school, and still no help from the government. I think that this is wrong.

I don't think that is right! We the tax payers are paying for prisoners educations! While like you are paying out you hard earned money to send you daughter through college! Not is not fare and the law should be changed! No prisoner should go to school for free! Let the parents of the prisoners or charity groups or churchers pay a prisoner education! This is my thought!

people in jail was forced to do fatigue. this fatigue may be in form of constructing wall, cleaning any area, planting etc and so on. when these people leave jail premises govt gave them some amount to settle down and adjust themselves in their lives. if charges were deduced from that amount it is seperate case.other then this we aslo have to look into the age of crimner. otherwise i personnaly think that if a person is turned into useful member of society it is no harm in it.