Online Education Can Help Reform Prisoners

I doubt the idea of online education came about as a result of wanting some way to educate prisoners. Yet what group of people is more restricted from continuing their education than those who have been incarcerated? Online education in prisons is making a difference, not only to the incarcerated, but to society as well.

In England, thirteen prisons and five probation areas are receiving funds to provide online learning for offenders in prison and on probation. The funds will be directed at a new approach to rehabilitating offenders, which is expected to improve employability and lessen the chances of re-offending. (http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=4270&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0)

A study by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons found that among those inmates who received GEDs while in prison, a considerably lower number of them came back to prison than did those who did not receive one. (http://adulted.about.com/cs/prisoneducation/a/prison_ed_2.htm)

There are other examples, but the point is that online education can benefit not only those who receive it, but those who may interact with the recipients. If ignorance is the root of all evil, then perhaps educating everyone should be an important priority for society.