GED/Vocational Certificates

The number of inmates earning GED certificates jumped 49% over the last two years, with 1,953 GED certificates earned in Fiscal Year 2008-09, compared to 1,313 in FY 2006-07, an increase of 640 certificates earned. The increase reflects the number of inmates who passed all parts of the test: reading, language, writing, math, social studies and science.

Studies show that inmates who have a GED upon release from prison recidivate 7.9% less than inmates overall. An inmate with an education has a better chance of getting a job and not coming back to prison.

The increase in GEDs earned can be attributed to a combination of factors, including:

• redirecting academic teachers to establish 18 additional institutional education programs and increasing the total student enrollment by 70%;
• implementing quarterly testing cycles, which allow education programs to more quickly identify students’ educational deficiencies and to provide remedial instruction;
• increase use of inmate teaching assistants working under the supervision of academic teachers to provide small-group instruction and one-on-one tutoring;
• establishing computer-based reading/testing laboratories in 18 education programs;
• supporting literacy programs at work camps.

For more education information, please see the Additional Facts section.