Research has repeatedly found that higher education programs in prisons reduce recidivism. And the higher a degree an incarcerated person earns, the less likely they are to re-offend, down to a 0% recidivism rate for those who have earned a master’s, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Now, Colorado, which has the fourth-highest recidivism rate in the United States, has taken one of the boldest steps of any state to incentivize people in prison to get a credential.
Last week, Governor Jared Polis signed into law a bill that offers significant sentence reductions to non-violent offenders who complete educational programs. The legislation, which passed with broad bipartisan support, offers six months off for a certificate, a one-year reduction for an associate’s and a bachelor’s, 18 months for a master’s, and two years for a doctorate. Those released before they complete their degree can earn time off from their parole if they finish.
Although several states have laws allowing sentence reductions for education, experts said that they reduce sentences by days and months, rather than years.
“It’s really a radical change,” said Lauren Reed, interim director of the Prison Education Program at Adams State University in Colorado. “I was shocked that it passed with that much time off.”
The new law, which takes effect in August, comes as incarcerated people are expected to regain access to Pell Grant funding this July. People in prison had not been eligible for this federal money since the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, which caused college-in-prison programs to drop to an estimated eight by 1997.
“This is a perfect time for Colorado to be incentivizing these programs,” said Dyjuan Tatro, senior government affairs officer at the Bard Prison Initiative. “It’s critical ahead of Pell Restoration.”
Colorado State Representative Matthew Martinez
