It honestly shouldn’t even be a debate as to whether or not the college-in-prison program should see some sort of budget cut, or be wiped out completely from Texas expenses. Personally, I am all for Texas lawmakers to completely remove the program. If it can at all protect some portion of education funds, then by all means, let‘s get rid of it.
After reading an article online entitled, “Texas spends millions on college for prison inmates”, found in the Austin American Statesman, I learned that for the past ten years Texas has spent more than $26.9 million dollars on higher education for Texas inmates. And of this $26.9 million, Texas has only received $4.7 million dollars reimbursed from ex-convicts. Yes, the whole idea of the program is for good towards these felon-students, but what about good for non-felon students who are desperately wanting help to pay for their education tuition? What about those who have never committed a crime? Why not help those in need who actually have a clean record? Instead of giving funding to those who originally decided to rob banks, sell drugs, and/or assault people, let’s give a lending hand to those who have a better chance of paying back the state once their schooling is finished. According to the article, state records have shown that of twenty-two thousand felons who signed up for the program and agreed to pay back the state, there were only a little under seven thousand felons (6,630 to be exact) who have repaid the state in full.
Yes, statistically more inmates who have participated in the college-in-prison program have a lower recidivism rate, but it really isn’t fair to those who didn’t put themselves in this type of situation in the first place. Let’s help those who choose to get an education to have a well respected profession, a legal profession at that, than those who chose not to in the first place.
After reading bluetexas2011's article, "Texas Spends Millions on College Education for Inmates" I was very intrigued by her article. I had not taken the time to check into such a matter that very well is dear to my heart. Education is a very important factor in the lives of those who plan to obtain stability in life. She wrote a very well stated argument with a lot of opinion. With the knowledge she put in front of me this evening, I can say that Texas should indeed cut most or if not all the budget for the inmates in regards to education. Like she pointed out, about 95% of the funding isn't coming back to a crashing Texas government. Additionally, for any of those who have obtained a job and have not paid back their debts, then their check needs to be garnished just like someone who owes child support. If that is not an option their tax return should be withheld and those who are habitual felons need not have the opportunity. As hard as things are for me, I know there is someone who has it worse. With that being said, teachers are the ones who help mold our society and help prevent a dim cold future. Texas has to wake up and realize how very important education is and that it is a privilege. Also, that budget cuts to public education is not an option especially with a state that is 44th in the country in education as is.
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ReplyDeleteBefore reading Mindy's blog, I had never before heard anything about Texans' tax dollars funding prison inmates that are getting college educations. I had no idea that was even going on and I'm still trying to digest that information right now as I formulate an intelligent-ish response. I chose Mindy's article, "Texas Spends Millions On College Education For Inmates" because while I understand her concern and passion on this issue, I cannot completely agree with her reasoning.
ReplyDeleteHer article conveys her feelings of frustration and annoyance that so much of our tax dollars are funding these felons when they could be funding "non-felon students who are desperately wanting help to pay for their education tuition...those who never committed a crime...those who actually have a clean record." I can't argue with that. Those people she mentions DO deserve to be first to get their educations funded. That's why I find myself straddling the fence on this issue and I'm finding it hard to rationalize which is the greater evil, cutting or leaving inmate funding as it is. One argument I must make is that our government already wastes a ton of our tax money on unnecessary spending (without our permission) as it is. I find it all too predictable that the government is all of a sudden using the inmate education program as a way of convincing Texans into thinking that cutting programs like this one are going funnel our tax dollars back into our empty education fund. It is almost too easy to take money away from the evil-doing criminals because...well...they can't vote (well they can't legally vote once they have committed a felony) so they really don't have a say anyway. Personally, I think the government would take the money (and the tiny bit of good it's doing to help the inmates) and find some other stupid plan to fund...either that or line their pockets. Who knows for sure. But I highly doubt they would poor it back into our education fund.
One of the reasons I can't make up my mind is probably because I want to believe that the college education is helping the inmates have a new, reformed life after they get out of prison. I know nobody wants to see ex-cons continue to commit crimes just to get by....not that there isn't any other option for them. But most legitimate companies aren't going to hire someone who has spent time in prison. So former prisoners don't have too many options on how to make a decent living when they get out...which is why most just go back to their old ways. So it's easy for me to sympathize a little and want the program to stay.
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But the other half of me thinks "who cares"....and with good reason. The inmates lost their chances to become productive members of society when they committed the crimes that landed them in prison in the first place. I didn't realize that $26.9 million dollars of tax payer money has been going to their educations over the last 10 years. They are supposed to be paying the money back to the government after their release, but so far only $4.7 million out of the $26.9 million has been paid back since then. That is a huge chunk of change that the Texas government could be using to fund other things like charities or highways or teachers and schools. That kind of money could be benefiting the honest, hard-working, people of Texas that actually deserve it.
ReplyDeleteSo you see my dilemma? Either way, it's hard to see a positive outcome from either funding their educations, or cutting funding completely from under them. I believe that everyone deserves a second chance but I also agree that the cost is a little too ridiculous as well. I wouldn't know what to do if it were me having to make the decision. Maybe it's best that indecisive people like me don't have to make that decision because you're damned if you do, and damned if you don't. But if I have to guess, I'll bet that they take the money away from the inmates. It would be the easiest way to get that much money back without having to do anything. Hey, excellent post Mindy. Thank you.
I completely agree with Mindy. How can anyone in their right mind support a program like this when the state of Texas tries to wobble its way towards a better financial situation. Wouldn't this college program for inmates make their sentence more of a reward than a punishment? We are forgetting why they are their in the first place, they did not get their by being good samaritans. On the contrary , they should be happy they are getting anything at all. We really should expect more from them by making them work for the food they eat, the clothes they wear, and their housing expenses, instead of paying their education. Why give them more? I strongly agree with Mindy when she says that budget cuts should come from programs like this, not education for the students who absolutely deserve it. I am all for a second chance at life but not this way. I am not even sure offenders deserve a second chance, but if they did it would definitely not have to come at the expense of other more eligible students or the state of Texas for that matter. We should be working towards rewarding regular college students rather than inmates. If inmates truly want a second chance at life, make them work for it. It seems that the only people that are not being affected by budget cuts are inmates. If they want to better themselves they should be expected to wait at at the very back of the line instead of placing them at the very front, even ahead of hard working students. It hardly seems fair that inmates get handed an education at no cost, because like Mindy said, most of them pay little or nothing back, while regular students work two jobs to make minimum payments on their tuition. More importantly, how much can we honestly expect to get out of this college program for inmates, not much. How many of them will even be out of jail long enough to make a difference in our communities?
ReplyDeletePrisons and inmates are already a financial burden to the state, therefore it is reasonable to discontinue additional funding for unnecessary programs. Although I do agree that such programs reduce recidivism rate, it should not come at the expense of innocent taxpayers. It almost seems that everyone is being punished with budget cuts except the people that deserve it the most. Texas already ranks very low in education, why worsen the situation by cutting funds in this crucial area. Education is an investment, and should be a priority of the state. Cutting funds for schools is ridiculous when inmates are getting a free education with taxpayers money.