This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
Is decreasing recidivism a genuine priority within our country?
A book is one of the most powerful tools to elevate the mind and heal the soul and introduce concepts that an inmate might have never been exposed to. Knowledge is power, and inmates already face limited access to knowledge.
Inmates Are Not Highly Educated
The more knowledge one is exposed to, the more opportunities they have to experience a better life. When you know better, you do better, which is why the educational levels of most inmates tend to be lower than the population outside of correctional facilities.
About 75% of state prison inmates, almost 59% of federal inmates, and 69% of jail inmates did not complete high school (table 2). About 35% of state inmates, 33% of federal inmates, 22% of jail inmates, and 11% of probationers had successfully passed the GED (Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics).
Why Are You Reading?
An inmate at a correction facility recently told me that the officers threatened to throw away all of the self-improvement books donated to him over the past several months.
Then one of the officers asked the inmate, “Why do you have so many books, and why are you reading so many?”
If jails were genuinely focused on recidivism and empowering inmates, something like this would never be the case.
Why would a correctional facility throw away books and educational materials?
What else are the inmates supposed to do…watch shitty tv all day?
Why would facilities not be interested in bettering the inmates that are flooding their facilities?
Many of the behaviors of correctional institutions are baffling. When judges and officers say, “I hope to not see you back here,” and they desire to decrease recidivism, they need to back up this statement with actions that show they mean what they’re saying.
Actions Correctional Institutions Can Take
Don’t throw away books that inmates receive.
Allow inmates to have more than three books at a time.
Don’t block inmates from receiving self-improvement books.
Allow inmates to share books with other inmates without any problems.
When inmates finish a book, allow inmates to get access to more books from their storage.
Offer more physical book libraries within correctional facilities, and provide incentives for inmates to read books.
If you’re interested in reading more articles about inmates and correctional facilities, start here:
It’s Cheaper To Go To College Than To Go To Prison
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.