Focus on Education for the Formerly Incarcerated
Challege to Lead

Publication June 20117 pages(11S06)Jeffrey Grove

Nearly 30 percent of adults in the United States have a criminal record, and research has determined that nearly two-thirds of inmates return to prison within three years of their release. This Focus report looks at adults with criminal records as an underserved population who might benefit greatly from educational services, which have been shown to increase employability and lower the risk of returning to incarceration. The report examines barriers these individuals face in continuing their education, including federal and state restrictions on financial aid, and the role of re-entry programs in helping former inmates transition into society and lead stable lives.