Provides inmates the opportunity to obtain a general equivalency diploma

1 Co-sponsor

• Ruth Hassell-Thompson

BILL NUMBER:S107A

Title of bill

An act to amend the correction law, in relation to providing inmates with the opportunity to obtain a general equivalency diploma

Purpose

This legislation requires the Department of Correctional Services to establish academic programs to prepare inmates to complete the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) and provides inmates with an opportunity to complete a GED prior to release on parole, conditional release, post release supervision or presumptive release.

Summary of provisions

Section two of the bill provides all inmates serving a determinate term of imprisonment or an indeterminate sentence with the opportunity to complete a GED.

Section three of the bill requires the Department of Correctional Services to ensure that all inmates are afforded a reasonable opportunity to do so by providing academic instruction at appropriate Department facilities.

Section four provides for an effective date three years after enactment.

Justification

Each year, the Department of Correctional Services releases 26,000 former inmates back to the community. The success of these individuals stands to benefit our entire community while their failure will only cause further victimization and feed the revolving door of incarceration, costing the state many millions of dollars. Education programs have been shown to reduce recidivism by up to 40%. Similarly, employment is a major factor in reducing recidivism and obtaining a GED greatly increases the chances that a former inmate will be able to find gainful employment. This bill will ensure that inmates will have an opportunity to obtain a GED thereby helping to reduce recidivism and better prepare inmates for successful reintegration into the community.

Legislative history

2009-2010: S.4793 - Passed Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee

Fiscal implications

Estimated cost of implementation is minimal because this bill codifies existing DOCS directives that inmates have an opportunity to obtain a GED.

Effective date

This act shall take effect three years after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.