Without assistance, the prison can be a revolving door, with inmates having nowhere to go but back to a lifestyle that has no future.
Education is critical to the process of preparing inmates for the day they return to society.
Since the vast majority of inmates will one day be released, it is wise to consider how we can prepare them to be productive citizens in their communities. Over half of the inmates admitted in 1995 read at below an eighth grade level. They are ill-prepared for the world of work and are likely to be employed in menial jobs without an education that teaches them to read, do simple math, and make everyday decisions with good judgment. Most also provide vocational education. North Carolina continues to make improvements in its education system for inmates and benefits from an excellent Community College system that provides education to inmates in such areas as basic academics, auto mechanics, masonry, wiring, plumbing, and computer literacy.