Education is the most important form of rehabilitation for inmates.
             Although prison is often seen as a place of punishment, the public must
             look into the future at these individuals are released into society. While
             offering inmates a chance to improve while they are incarcerated, we are
             doing what we can to create a better life for all. Statistics indicate
             that when prisoners are provided an education, they gain higher self-esteem
             and recidivism rates drop dramatically. This is solution works for
             everyone. This paper will examine the effects that receiving a higher
             education has on inmates as well as society.
             According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, there is an "inverse
             relationship between recidivism rates and education" (Open Society
             Institute). In fact, the higher the level of education a prisoner receives,
             the less likely he or she is to return to prison. For instance, studies
             indicate that approximately 60 to 75 percent of inmates who receive higher
             education experience a better rate of employment than those who do not
             participate in education programs. The Open Society Institute also states
             that "financial and societal savings of providing an inmate higher
             education are enormous" (Open Society Institute). When an inmate is
             released, says the Institute, "the cost-benefit of reducing recidivism will
             begin to be realized immediately. If we consider the additional benefit of
             this individual obtaining work, paying taxes, and contributing to the
             general economy, and the prevention of costs to victims of crime and the
             criminal justice system, the benefits are significantly greater" (Open
             Society Institute). In addition, while individuals are in prison receiving
             a higher education, life behind bars is easier as well. The Institute
             reports that the learning environment has a "stabilizing influence" on the
             prison environment which allows a facility to operate smoothly with less
             violence than pris...