A Fighting Chance: A Study on What Education Tactics Reduce Recidivism Among Incarcerated Individuals

Abstract

This study is an attempt at understanding what types of education can produce the lowest recidivism rates among incarcerated individuals in America under the considerations of whether or not they are socially acceptable by American society. The study is a theoretical research project that encompasses theoretical sociological concepts as well as real-world, pre-existing data coupled with current events that provide social context. This study found that while online education would be an effective tool for incarcerated individuals, the amount of money and resources that would have to go into supplying prisons with the adequate technologies coupled with the reluctance of American society to provide tax funds for prison education makes online education an inefficient form of education for the time being. Vocational and traditional education means however do share some relatively positive statuses among American society, and both are effective at reducing recidivism at the expense of being able to be employed on a large scale. If prison education were to become the social norm in America then online education would be a necessary tool to keep up with demand; but until that time comes traditional education means will be the most efficient and effective at reducing recidivism.