A systematic review focused on studies that evaluated the impact of formal education programs (primary and secondary education) within the prison system showed that access to education can lead to a 7% to 46% reduction in recidivism rates [1].
The Crime Solutions platform evaluated three systematic reviews focused on primary and secondary education programs for adults in prison, and rated this type of program as promising in terms of reducing recidivism, as it expands the employability and socioeconomic status of prison system graduates [2] [3] [3] [4]. Based on two of those systematic reviews, the Crime Reduction Toolkit platform also rates this type of program as promising, although it notes that it has found limited evidence (from two individual studies) that the programs may have no effect or may even increase recidivism.
Academic and vocational training programs beyond high school are also rated as promising by Crime Solutions based on four systematic reviews analyzed by Crime Solutions. All reviews found those interventions had positive effects on criminal recidivism levels [2] [3] [4] [5]. Divergence was limited to effect size estimates (e.g., 37% recidivism among participants vs. 50% among non-participants [2]; or 22% vs. 35%, respectively [5]).
Regarding employment programs offered in correctional facilities, Crime Solutions evaluated and synthesized the results of two systematic reviews that provide evidence that access to correctional education reduces the risk of recidivism among the incarcerated population. One of those reviews estimated that, on average, industrial (structured) prison work leads to a 7.8% reduction in recidivism rates for working inmates compared to those who do not participate in such structured activities [2] [3].
However, employment programs in non-custodial settings for people with recent criminal records are rated by Crime Solutions as a practice that is not effective to reduce recidivism. That platform was based on a Campbell Collaboration review that found an overall small and statistically non-significant average effect size, indicating no relevant impact in terms of reducing the participants’ criminal behavior [6]. However, it is important to note that the Campbell Collaboration’s own summary recommends not generalizing the study’s findings due to the large heterogeneity found.