Rehabilitation Programming
Evidence-Based Prison Rehabilitation: Verified Outcomes, Recidivism Baselines, and Georgia Program Delivery (Research Pass, Aug 2026)
This research pass verifies evidence-based rehabilitation program data for a GPS featured article, correcting prior overstated figures from Forge research files. Key corrections include RAND's cost savings estimate of $4–5 per $1 spent (not a flat $5), GRIP's self-reported 1.18% recidivism among 1,765 graduates, and GDC's actual rehabilitation spending of approximately $1,225,705 with a 22:1 surveillance-to-rehabilitation ratio. The document establishes Georgia's FY2022 felony reconviction rate of 30.7% as the highest in GDC's published series, while documenting meta-analytic evidence showing correctional education reduces recidivism by 32–43% and identifying significant data gaps in GDC programming participation and completion metrics.
Where this research is used
This page is a research collection: individual facts drawn from the sources listed further down, each traced to where it came from. A research topic brings many collections together into one overview of an issue. The facts on this page feed these 3 topics; open one to see how they fit with the rest of the evidence.
Budget & Spending
Georgia's prison budget rose from $1.53 billion in fiscal 2024 to an all-time peak of $1.91 billion in fiscal 2025, then settled near $1.79 billion for fiscal 2027. Across that arc the money moved toward health contracts, private beds and surveillance technology while the state-operated prison program, food service and education shrank. GPS's own budget series has since corrected several of its earlier headline claims, and the gap between what the state appropriates and what it can show for it remains the central accountability problem.
11,375 data points
Recidivism & Reentry
Georgia reports one of the lowest recidivism rates in the nation — a 25 to 27 percent three-year felony reconviction rate — but that figure counts only new felony convictions, only within three years, and only among people who survive the window. Georgia's own reconviction rate has climbed every year since 2019, reaching 30.7 percent for the 2022 release cohort even as the state spends more than a billion dollars a year on corrections, releases 12,000 to 16,000 people annually with almost no preparation, and funds vocational education at $172,000 statewide. The evidence on what works is unusually clear — education, vocational training, cognitive-behavioral programming, and transitional beds all correlate with substantially lower recidivism — and Georgia has systematized almost none of it at scale.
12,548 data points
Reform Models & Programs
Georgia operates a statewide cognitive-skills curriculum for parolees, twelve reentry and cognitive programming centers, contracted addiction treatment, step-down units inside its Tier segregation system, and an earned-time credit statute — and the national evidence base for each of those program types is unusually strong. What the record does not contain is current, published, rigorously designed outcome data for most of Georgia's own programs, and the state's direct spending on them amounts to a fraction of one percent of the prison budget. This page sets out what the research verifies, what Georgia actually runs, what it spends, what other states have achieved, and where the evidence stops.
12,091 data points
Key Findings
The most impactful data from this research collection. Tap a card for the full finding, GPS commentary on why it matters, and its source.
The finding
Correctional education participants had 43% lower odds of recidivating (13-percentage-point reduction) and 13% higher odds of post-release employment, based on seven Level 4–5 studies for recidivism and one for employment.
Why it matters · GPS commentary
Strong evidence that education lowers reoffending sets a benchmark Georgia cannot yet be measured against, since GDC's participation and completion data have major gaps while its FY2022 felony reconviction rate reached 30.7%.
Our reading of the finding above. It is not part of the source.
The finding
Washington State Institute for Public Policy benefit-cost model ranks correctional education (especially postsecondary) as the highest-return adult corrections program; CBT, vocational education, and correctional industries show positive net benefits.
Why it matters · GPS commentary
An independent cost model from Washington State puts education at the front of adult corrections spending, a contrast with GDC's spending of about 22 dollars on surveillance for every dollar on rehabilitation.
Our reading of the finding above. It is not part of the source.Source
The finding
Prison Entrepreneurship Program (Texas): ICIC 2018 impact analysis reports approximately 7% of graduates return to prison within three years vs 23% of Texas male releasees. Highly selective (~2,000 applications, ~500 accepted per year).
Why it matters · GPS commentary
Results from a program that admits about one in four applicants cannot show what a typical participant would achieve, a caution that also bears on GRIP's self-reported 1.18% rate among its graduates.
Our reading of the finding above. It is not part of the source.
The finding
GDC surveillance-to-rehabilitation spending ratio is approximately 22:1, not $2.6M / 46:1 as previously reported in GPS post 9639.
Why it matters · GPS commentary
Even at the corrected figure, rehabilitation is a small slice of GDC's spending beside surveillance, leaving little room for the education and cognitive programs that research in this collection links to fewer returns to prison.
Our reading of the finding above. It is not part of the source.Source
- Georgia legislative budget documents
All Data Points
72 verified data points extracted from primary sources.
RAND correctional education cost savings estimate Statistic
RAND's cost analysis estimated $4 to $5 saved in reincarceration costs per $1 spent on correctional education, not a flat $5 as previously reported.
$4.50
RAND RR-266 recidivism odds reduction Statistic
Correctional education participants had 43% lower odds of recidivating (13-percentage-point reduction) and 13% higher odds of post-release employment, based on seven Level 4–5 studies for recidivism and one for employment.
43%
RAND RR-266 employment odds increase Statistic
Correctional education participants had 13% higher odds of post-release employment compared to non-participants.
13%
RAND RR-564 prison education spending cuts Statistic
Large states cut prison education spending approximately 10% and medium states approximately 20% between FY2009 and FY2012.
10%
Bozick et al. 2018 recidivism reduction Statistic
Bozick, Steele, Davis & Turner (2018, Journal of Experimental Criminology 14(3)) found correctional education participants were 32% less likely to recidivate and had 12% higher odds of employment, based on 1980–2017 research.
32%
Bozick et al. 2018 employment odds increase Statistic
Correctional education participants had 12% higher odds of employment according to Bozick, Steele, Davis & Turner (2018).
12%
AJC 2023 meta-analysis vocational education return Statistic
American Journal of Criminal Justice (2023) meta-analysis of 152 estimates from 79 papers found vocational education returns $3.05 per dollar invested.
$3.05
AJC 2023 meta-analysis college education benefit Statistic
College education in prison has the largest per-student benefit at approximately $16,908 according to the American Journal of Criminal Justice (2023) meta-analysis.
$16,908
Lipsey CBT meta-analysis odds ratio Statistic
Lipsey, Landenberger & Wilson (2007, Campbell Systematic Reviews) meta-analysis of 58 studies found odds of not recidivating were 1.53 times higher for CBT participants.
1.5 odds ratio
Lipsey CBT representative program recidivism reduction Statistic
Representative CBT programs show 20–30% recidivism reductions, with larger effects for higher-risk people and high-fidelity implementation; routine prison implementations show the smallest but still significant effects.
25%
WSIPP ranks correctional education highest return Finding
Washington State Institute for Public Policy benefit-cost model ranks correctional education (especially postsecondary) as the highest-return adult corrections program; CBT, vocational education, and correctional industries show positive net benefits.
Source
T4C CrimeSolutions rating Finding
Thinking for a Change (T4C) is rated 'Promising' by CrimeSolutions based on one quasi-experimental study (Lowenkamp, Hubbard, Makarios & Latessa 2009, Criminal Justice and Behavior 36(2)).
T4C recidivism rate comparison Statistic
23% of T4C participants recidivated vs 36% of controls (n=217 felony probationers, Tippecanoe County, Indiana), delivered by line staff.
23% vs. 36 control group recidivism rate
MRT Little & Robinson recidivism rates Statistic
Little & Robinson (1991, Psychological Reports) studied 70 treated felony offenders vs 82 controls with 38-month follow-up: 24.3% vs 36.6% recidivism; steps completed correlated with outcomes.
24.3% vs. 36.6 control group recidivism rate
MRT developer claim of 200+ studies Methodology note
MRT's '200+ published studies' is a developer claim, largely published in the developer's own newsletter.
Source
- Correctional Counseling, Inc. MRT materials
GDC core cognitive-behavioral programs Policy
Georgia Department of Corrections lists MRT and T4C as its core cognitive-behavioral programs at state prisons, private prisons, and the Metro Reentry Facility.
GDC Program and Treatment Completion Certificate eligibility Statistic
GDC states that approximately 25 to 33 percent of releasing inmates are eligible for a Program and Treatment Completion Certificate.
29%
Prison Entrepreneurship Program recidivism Statistic
Prison Entrepreneurship Program (Texas): ICIC 2018 impact analysis reports approximately 7% of graduates return to prison within three years vs 23% of Texas male releasees. Highly selective (~2,000 applications, ~500 accepted per year).
7% vs. 23 Texas male releasees return rate
Bard Prison Initiative recidivism Statistic
Bard Prison Initiative (New York) reports approximately 2–4% return among 400+ released graduates; competitive admissions.
3%
RSVP violent rearrest reduction Statistic
RSVP (San Francisco jail) peer-reviewed headline figure is a 46.3% reduction in violent rearrests (p
46.3%
RSVP custody time reduction Statistic
RSVP participants had 42.6% reduction in custody time compared to controls (101 participants vs 101 controls, one-year follow-up).
42.6%
RSVP in-dorm violence reduction Statistic
In-dorm felony-level violent incidents in the RSVP dorm fell from 24 per year to 1 then 0 for 12 months while the control dorm had 28.
24 incidents per year vs. 28 control dorm incidents
Vera Institute postsecondary education savings Statistic
Vera Institute (2021): expanding postsecondary education in prison would save states a combined $365.8 million per year in prison costs.
$365.8M
Source
- Vera Institute (2021) postsecondary education report
GRIP Training Institute updated figures Statistic
GRIP Training Institute now reports 1,765 graduates, 869 released, 1.18% recidivism (previously 421 released, 2 returned). All GRIP figures are self-reported; GRIP's population is mostly lifers paroled by the Board, whose baseline recidivism GRIP itself states is below 3%.
1,765 graduates
Source
- GRIP Training Institute self-reported data
GRIP recidivism rate Statistic
GRIP Training Institute reports 1.18% recidivism among 869 released graduates.
1.2%
Source
- GRIP Training Institute self-reported data
GRIP baseline recidivism caveat Methodology note
GRIP's population is mostly lifers paroled by the Board, whose baseline recidivism GRIP itself states is below 3%.
Source
- GRIP Training Institute self-reported data
California FY2020-21 three-year conviction rate Statistic
California's most recent three-year conviction rate is 39.5% (FY2020-21 cohort, released Aug 4, 2026); return-to-prison 20.4%; arrests 62.4%.
39.5%
California FY2020-21 return-to-prison rate Statistic
California's FY2020-21 cohort return-to-prison rate is 20.4%.
20.4%
California FY2020-21 arrest rate Statistic
California's FY2020-21 cohort arrest rate is 62.4%.
62.4%
Proposition 57 credit earners conviction rate reduction Statistic
People who earned Proposition 57 rehabilitation/education credits had a 12.3-percentage-point lower conviction rate than those who did not.
12.3%
Parole-hearing releasees new-felony rate Statistic
Parole-hearing releasees in California had a 2% new-felony rate.
2%
California FY2019-20 cohort conviction rate Statistic
California's FY2019-20 cohort (34,215 individuals) had a 39.1% conviction rate.
39.1%
California FY2020-21 cohort size Statistic
CDCR FY2020-21 cohort size was 30,116 individuals.
30,116 people
California FY2019-20 cohort size Statistic
CDCR FY2019-20 cohort size was 34,215 individuals.
34,215 people
BJS 2012 cohort 3-year arrest rate Statistic
Updated national baseline (BJS, 2012 cohort, 34 states): 62% arrested within 3 years.
62%
BJS 2012 cohort 5-year arrest rate Statistic
Updated national baseline (BJS, 2012 cohort, 34 states): 71% arrested within 5 years.
71%
BJS 2012 cohort 5-year return-to-prison rate Statistic
Updated national baseline (BJS, 2012 cohort, 34 states): 46% returned to prison within 5 years.
46%
BJS homicide releasees lowest rearrest rate Statistic
Homicide releasees had the lowest 5-year rearrest rate (41.3%) among all offense types in the BJS 2012 cohort.
41.3%
Georgia FY2022 felony reconviction rate Statistic
Georgia (GDC, felony reconviction within 3 years, report dated July 9, 2025): FY2022 release cohort 30.7% for all inmate facilities, the highest in GDC's published 2011–2022 series.
30.7%
Georgia state prisons FY2022 reconviction rate Statistic
Georgia state prisons FY2022 release cohort felony reconviction rate was 33.7%.
33.7%
Georgia private prisons FY2022 reconviction rate Statistic
Georgia private prisons FY2022 release cohort felony reconviction rate was 32.1%.
32.1%
Georgia county CIs FY2022 reconviction rate Statistic
Georgia county correctional institutions FY2022 release cohort felony reconviction rate was 30.7%.
30.7%
Georgia transition centers FY2022 reconviction rate Statistic
Georgia transition centers FY2022 release cohort felony reconviction rate was 11.4%.
11.4%
Georgia FY2019 reconviction rate Statistic
Georgia FY2019 release cohort felony reconviction rate was 23.3%.
23.3%
Georgia FY2020 reconviction rate Statistic
Georgia FY2020 release cohort felony reconviction rate was 24.3%.
24.3%
Georgia FY2021 reconviction rate Statistic
Georgia FY2021 release cohort felony reconviction rate was 27.1%.
27.1%
Georgia reconviction rate rising trend Trend
Georgia's felony reconviction rate has risen from 23.3% (FY2019) to 24.3% (FY2020) to 27.1% (FY2021) to 30.7% (FY2022), the highest in GDC's published 2011–2022 series.
Georgia Parole Board and CSG recidivism citation Statistic
Georgia's Parole Board and CSG cite 'around 27%' for recidivism.
27%
Recidivism definitional incomparability Methodology note
Georgia counts only felony reconvictions; California counts any conviction; BJS counts arrests. The three are not directly comparable.
GDC rehabilitation spending two-cycle total Statistic
GDC rehabilitation spending: canonical two-cycle (AFY2026 + FY2027) rehabilitation investment is approximately $1,225,705.
$1.2M
Source
- Georgia legislative budget documents
GDC surveillance-to-rehabilitation ratio Statistic
GDC surveillance-to-rehabilitation spending ratio is approximately 22:1, not $2.6M / 46:1 as previously reported in GPS post 9639.
22 ratio
Source
- Georgia legislative budget documents
Project Rebound recidivism figure caveat Methodology note
Project Rebound's '0% recidivism' is a CSU marketing figure; Vera cites 3% (2010).
Sources
- Vera Institute: Back to School
- CSU Project Rebound marketing materials
Arches felony reconviction reduction at 12 months Statistic
Arches credible-messenger mentoring (NYC probation, Urban Institute 2018): felony reconviction 69% lower at 12 months.
69%
Source
- Urban Institute 2018 Arches Evaluation
Arches felony reconviction reduction at 24 months Statistic
Arches credible-messenger mentoring (NYC probation, Urban Institute 2018): felony reconviction 57% lower at 24 months, driven by participants under 18.
57%
Source
- Urban Institute 2018 Arches Evaluation
Arches CrimeSolutions rating Finding
CrimeSolutions rates Arches 'Ineffective' because arrests, felony arrests, and overall reconvictions showed no significant difference despite felony reconviction reductions.
Source
- CrimeSolutions: Arches
GDC Reentry and Cognitive Programming centers count Statistic
GDC operates 12 Reentry and Cognitive Programming centers with 2,344 transitional beds (346 for women).
12 centers
GDC transitional bed count Statistic
GDC operates 2,344 transitional beds across its Reentry and Cognitive Programming centers, including 346 for women.
2,344 beds
GDC women's transitional beds Statistic
GDC has 346 transitional beds designated for women in its Reentry and Cognitive Programming centers.
346 beds
GDC work release duration Policy
GDC Reentry and Cognitive Programming centers provide approximately 6 months of work release before parole.
GDC limited reentry space admission Finding
GDC's own page concedes 'a limited amount of space' in Reentry and Cognitive Programming centers and that some people are ineligible by criminal history.
DOJ Walker State Prison finding Finding
DOJ Civil Rights Division findings (Oct 1, 2024): Walker State Prison, with better staffing and more robust programming, had no reported homicides in several years and less violence and contraband than the other 16 prisons visited.
DOJ Walker State Prison quote Quote
DOJ said Walker State Prison 'shows that larger-scale improvement is possible with an appropriate strategy and sufficient resources.'
GDC correctional officer vacancy rate Statistic
Systemwide correctional officer vacancy in Georgia prisons has been over 50% since mid-2021.
50%
AFY2026 Autry State Prison peer-led pilot funding Statistic
AFY2026 amended budget includes $150,000 for an Autry State Prison peer-led pilot.
$150,000
Source
- Georgia AFY2026 Amended Budget
AFY2026 Metro Reentry Facility programming funding Statistic
AFY2026 amended budget includes $93,179 for Metro Reentry Facility programming.
$93,179
Source
- Georgia AFY2026 Amended Budget
GDC programming participation data gap Data gap
GDC programming participation and completion by program type (T4C, MRT, GED/HSE, vocational) is not publicly available.
Source
- GPS original analysis
Georgia FY2022 release cohort size data gap Data gap
Georgia FY2022 release cohort size (denominator for the 30.7% reconviction rate) is not publicly available.
Source
- GPS original analysis
Autry peer-led pilot details data gap Data gap
Autry State Prison peer-led pilot curriculum, enrollment, and evaluation plan are not publicly available.
Source
- GPS original analysis
Reasoning & Rehabilitation figure unverified Data gap
Reasoning & Rehabilitation ~14% reduction figure (Tong & Farrington 2006) has not been re-verified.
Source
- GPS original analysis
Legislative budget document URLs data gap Data gap
Legislative budget document URLs for the $1.23M / 22:1 figures have not been located.
Source
- GPS original analysis
GDC June 2018 press release unverified Data gap
GDC June 2018 press release claiming lower recidivism among program completers has not been located or verified.
Source
- GPS original analysis
RAND RR-266 citation correction Methodology note
The 2013 RAND correctional-education meta-analysis is RR-266 (Davis, Bozick, Steele, Saunders, Miles). RR-564 is the 2014 follow-up.
Sources
30 cited sources backing this research.
Primary
Academic
Primary
Official report
Primary
Official report
Primary
Official report
Primary
Official report
Correctional Counseling, Inc. MRT materials
Secondary
Official report
CrimeSolutions: Arches
Secondary
Official report
Primary
Official report
CSU Project Rebound marketing materials
Primary
Official report
Primary
Academic
Primary
Official report
Primary
Official report
Primary
Official report
Primary
Official report
Primary
Official report
Primary
Legislation
Georgia AFY2026 Amended Budget
Primary
Official report
Primary
Official report
Georgia legislative budget documents
Primary
Academic
Primary
Gps original
GPS original analysis
Primary
Official report
GRIP Training Institute self-reported data
Primary
Official report
Primary
Official report
Primary
Academic
Primary
Official report
Urban Institute 2018 Arches Evaluation
Primary
Official report
Vera Institute (2021) postsecondary education report
Secondary
Official report
Primary
Official report
Key Entities
Organizations, people, facilities, and other named entities referenced in this research.
Arches
[program]
Autry State Prison
[facility]
Bard Prison Initiative
[program]
Bureau of Justice Statistics
[organization]
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
[organization]
Council of State Governments
[organization]
DOJ Civil Rights Division
[organization]
Georgia Department of Corrections
[organization]
Georgia Parole Board
[organization]
GRIP Training Institute
[organization]
Metro Reentry Facility
[facility]
Moral Reconation Therapy
[program]
Prison Entrepreneurship Program
[program]
Project Rebound
[program]
Proposition 57
[legislation]
RAND Corporation
[organization]
Reasoning & Rehabilitation
[program]
Resolve to Stop the Violence Project
[program]
Thinking for a Change
[program]
Vera Institute of Justice
[organization]
Walker State Prison
[facility]
Washington State Institute for Public Policy
[organization]