Educational and Vocational Programs

Abstract

Educational and vocational programs that provide inmates with skills training and job readiness classes are essential policies that can increase post‐release employment opportunities, promote successful re‐entry, and reduce recidivism. However, challenges such as state and federal cuts to vocational training for inmates, employment restrictions such as criminal background checks, and the elimination of Pell Grants for prisoners, have impacted the effectiveness of educational and vocational correctional programs in the United States. While the need for more comprehensive and empirical research is being increasingly recognized, additional efforts need to be made in order to significantly reduce the rate of recidivism among ex‐inmates. This entry provides an in‐depth analysis of the evolution of the policy's adoption, the policy's explicit and implicit rationale, constitutional challenges to the policy, and evidence‐based research on these programs.