Prison education reduces recidivism by 43%. Georgia just cut its prison education program. RAND Corporation research proves every $1 spent on prison education saves $4-5 in reduced incarceration costs. College-level programs deliver the highest impact—27.7% recidivism reduction with $19.62 return per dollar. Georgia spends $60,000 per inmate annually on warehousing. Education costs a fraction of that and actually works. The evidence is clear. Georgia ignores it. 1
What the Research Shows
Education transforms outcomes:
- 43% reduction in recidivism—for any education program participation
- 27.7% reduction for college programs—the highest impact intervention
- 14.8% reduction for vocational training—practical skills that lead to jobs
- 13% improvement in employment—educated inmates find work after release
The Bard Prison Initiative achieves less than 4% recidivism among graduates—compared to 40% nationally.
The Cost-Benefit Reality
Education saves money:
- $19.62 return per dollar—for college education programs
- $13.21 return per dollar—for vocational training
- $4-5 return per dollar—for GED preparation
- $60,000 saved—every year someone doesn’t return to prison
Georgia spends $1.48 billion on corrections annually. A fraction invested in education would reduce future costs permanently. 2
Georgia’s Failure
While evidence mounts, Georgia cuts:
- $24.4 million budget cut—forced Georgia State program closure
- 38 bachelor’s degrees awarded in 2023—for 48,000+ inmates
- 44 states expanding—prison education after Pell Grant restoration
- Georgia cutting—while the nation invests
The choice to underfund education is a choice to pay more for incarceration.
Take Action
Use Impact Justice AI to send advocacy emails demanding investment in prison education. The free tool crafts personalized messages to lawmakers—no experience required.
Demand:
- Restored and expanded education funding
- Pell Grant access for incarcerated students
- College partnerships in Georgia facilities
- Outcome tracking for all programs
Further Reading
- Higher Education in Prison: 7 Key Benefits
- How Prison Education Lowers Recidivism Costs
- GPS Informational Resources
- Pathways to Success
About Georgia Prisoners’ Speak (GPS)
Georgia Prisoners’ Speak (GPS) is a nonprofit investigative newsroom built in partnership with incarcerated reporters, families, advocates, and data analysts. Operating independently from the Georgia Department of Corrections, GPS documents the truth the state refuses to acknowledge: extreme violence, fatal medical neglect, gang-controlled dorms, collapsed staffing, fraudulent reporting practices, and unconstitutional conditions across Georgia’s prisons.
Through confidential reporting channels, secure communication, evidence verification, public-records requests, legislative research, and professional investigative standards, GPS provides the transparency the system lacks. Our mission is to expose abuses, protect incarcerated people, support families, and push Georgia toward meaningful reform based on human rights, evidence, and public accountability.
Every article is part of a larger fight — to end the silence, reveal the truth, and demand justice.
